STAFF EDITORIAL: Welcome to Duke

President Brodhead, it's time to dream. The Duke University Board of Trustees bestows upon you today an honor it has only granted eight times before--the presidency of one of the most respected institutions of higher education in the South, the United States, and indeed, the world. It is clear that you are an excellent choice to lead Duke--your commitment to teaching, to scholarship and to students has rung true in your many years at Yale University. You garner great respect from all members of the Yale community and we are confident you will continue this strong leadership at Duke. You are inheriting one of the youngest, fastest-growing and strongest universities in the country, which under your predecessor's tenure has made tremendous strides toward and has achieved many levels of greatness. However, there are still many goals to be accomplished and at least a million more left to be dreamed. So start dreaming. And dream big and fresh and, dare we say it, outside of the box, because as solid and healthy of a footing as Duke stands upon now, it does not need a president who wants simply to continue riding our skyrocketing trajectory. Rather, Duke needs a president who believes there are destinations beyond our own solar system worth aiming for and that our current knowledge, methodologies and technologies are not enough to get us to those next galaxies. Understand that perhaps unlike other schools, the alumni, faculty, students, doctors, administrators, staff and employees of this university do not care about magazine rankings, the size of our endowment or our undergraduate admissions yield. These are mere numbers--always in flux and always with room for improvement. Instead, the Duke community cares passionately about the dogged pursuit of excellence. Duke's international reputation or the cache the name carries with it on a resume or in a cocktail party conversation means nothing if the University community does not believe that that reputation has been earned and has been reinforced by each individual's experience. No decision you will make during your time at Duke will ever be met with complete approval, but treat those who will be impacted by your actions with fairness, respect and a certain touch of Southern hospitality--along with our youth and basketball, that Southern charm may be what separates Duke most from our peers--and your success is guaranteed. Today is your day, but get ready, because beginning tomorrow, every waking moment of your life will be focused on Duke's dogged pursuit of excellence. And, hopefully, every dreaming moment will as well. Welcome to Duke, President Brodhead.