MULTIMEDIA: DSG Presidential Debate

05 Apr 2011, Posted by Samantha Brooks in News, 0 Comments

Watch highlights as DSG Presidential candidates Pete Schork, Ashley Jordan and Isaac Mizrahi face off in this year’s DSG Presidential Debate.

Freshmen boys in “midget sombreros”

01 Apr 2011, Posted by Caitlin Johnson in News, 0 Comments

It’s that time of year again: the trees are in bloom, the weather is warming up, and freshman males can finally ditch those trademark freshman caps.
Well, at least they could back in March 1928.
“As buds with the coming of spring burst forth from their wintry casements, so the freshman have found freedom in parting themselves from their blue top pieces.” (Wednesday, April 4, 1928, “Student Council Penalizes Frosh For Delinquency”)

In 1928, entering male students were required to don a cap marking them as a freshman for the first seven months of their academic career. After this period, students with a favorable track record of wearing the garment were allowed to remove it.
“According to [Student Body] President Weaver, a riotous celebration is to be staged this evening at which a large time will be had by all. Immediately after the regular Wednesday night picture, all freshman will lineup, turn their caps, and have their names checked off the list.” (Wednesday, March 28, 1928, “Freshman Caps Be Taken Off Tonight”)

However, as the article continues, “Those who have been reported for habitually appearing without caps must wear them on for varying terms” (“Freshman Caps Be Taken Off Tonight”). Rather humorously, fifteen nonconformist students did not make the list and were sentenced to continue bearing the dreaded freshman label.

A vintage Chronicle cartoon of freshmen wearing their trademark hats. The humor of the caption--'air derby'--has been lost with the passage of time.

“Unfortunately, though, some freshman may still be seen nonchalantly pursuing their course about the campus with their midget sombreros squatting insecurely on their heads. In this practice of cap wearing, the laws of Nature must be obeyed.” (Wednesday, March 28, 1928, “Student Council Penalizes Frosh For Delinquency”)

Fourteen individuals were required to continue wearing their caps until April 16. Most notably, one freshman so infuriated the council with his refusal to wear the headgear that they demanded he don the cap until June.
“As fathers have done, so have sons likewise; and the freshman now will bequeath to the oncoming freshman class the full privilege of wearing ht blue caps and the pleasure of losing them.” (Wednesday, March 28, 1928, “Student Council Penalizes Frosh For Delinquency”)

These days you can spot freshmen as they struggle to pack themselves into the C-1 bus or when they give you a look of sheer panic while attempting to navigate the campus. While official labels probably made being a freshman more terrifying, you have to admit: it’s kind of funny.

Lupe Fiasco with Kid Sister

31 Mar 2011, Posted by Melissa Yeo in News, 0 Comments

Rap artists Lupe Fiasco and Kid Sister performed at Central Campus’ Erwin Park tonight. Check out some photos from the concert by Chronicle photographer James Lee.

These photographs are available for purchase in print or digital format at our Photoshelter gallery.

Frances Hasso discusses political Unrest in Arab world

30 Mar 2011, Posted by Chris Taylor in News, 0 Comments

During the past few months, the situation in Northern Africa and the Middle East has grown increasingly volatile. With revolutions in many nations with oppressive regimes, observers of the region wonder what this activity means for other nations in the area.
Even experts, who have studied the region for their entire careers, do not know what the future will hold.

Will these revolutions produce meaningful change in the long term? Or are they temporary power shifts which will eventually settle down back into oppressive dictatorships?

In an effort to understand these events and answer some of these questions, Round Table, a selective living group, invited Frances Hasso, associate professor of women’s studies and international comparative studies, to host a question and answer session about the recent political protests in the Arab world.

During the discussion, Hasso reiterated that, although there may have been specific trigger events, these revolutions are the result of decades of oppressive regimes and unjust rule. The initial trigger, however, was the revolution in Tunisia.

“Tunisia broke down this huge wall of fear,” Hasso said. “Now almost every single Arab country has something going on.”

For observers in the Western world, the most common question is “where next?” Hasso noted that, although there is some predictability to the pattern of these changes, there is still a very large unpredictable element. Revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt sparked within days through social media, and ousted decade-old regimes within weeks.

“All the governments blame outside sources for their problems,” Hasso said. “The Egyptian government blamed Israel and the United States. The scary thing is that it works for a lot of people; people are sick of war. That’s one of those fear barriers. Many would rather have the dictator devil they know.”

The one recurring theme throughout the discussion was the level of uncertainty in the region. Experts could study the data and make as many predictions as possible; in the end, however, it all depends on unforeseeable events and the actions of individual people.

BSAI: More than just a party weekend

29 Mar 2011, Posted by Ariel Smallwood in News, 8 Comments

BSAI, Duke’s Black Student Alliance Invitational, has come and gone like a tornado, leaving a path of destruction. Some events from this weekend have already become common knowledge, while others remained locked in the chamber of secrets. One of the unofficial mottos for BSAI was to be as “ratchet” as possible. “Ratchet” is a term used to mean ridiculous, wild, and out of control. “Ratchet” is an adjective but it can be used as a noun (“ratchetivity,” “ratchetness”) and even has a Spanish counterpart (“ratchetamente”). The idea that we have waited all year to be “ratchet” has spawned a twitter account and a blog, both titled “Championship Week.” But, when did it become OK to be “ratchet”?

BSAI is a weekend to welcome accepted African-American students to the University. The purpose is to help students see Duke in an environment where they feel comfortable. An emphasis is placed on embracing your culture at a university where you are the minority. Though some social activities can mislead prospective freshman into believing that the social life for black students is better than it actually is, the weekend showcases life at Duke for black students in a pretty accurate way. Therefore, it diminishes the legitimacy of the weekend when so many black enrolled students (both hosts to prospective freshmen and non-hosts) use it primarily as a party weekend. I feel that it gives the invited students the idea that our unity stems from a culture of partying and drinking.

Before the weekend started, I contacted the prospective freshman that I would be hosting for the weekend. We discussed alcohol, and I told her that I didn’t feel it would be appropriate for her to drink this weekend, even if she did drink in her hometown. She understood, and we made the decision that she would not drink. Once she arrived on campus and went to her first party, she expressed that she had changed her opinion. She stated that she didn’t want to be the only sober person at a party full of people who were drunk—I saw her dilemma. I had witnessed people who were falling over drunk three nights in a row, and it was portrayed as the norm. How could I tell my p-frosh that this is not how Duke is when this is all that she sees? It saddened me that we could only connect with each other when we had all downed a fifth of vodka.

What about events outside of the parties? The cultural events and talks are enlightening, but many of these events are required so that a p-frosh can gain admission to the parties. It sends the wrong message—that we only care about jazz so that we can listen to rap later. I think that BSAI is a wonderful way for prospective students to connect with members of the Duke community of their same race. However, the unofficial emphasis placed on partying and getting wasted has hurt its reputation.

Ariel Smallwood is a Trinity sophomore. Her online column runs every Tuesday.