Triggered by a combination of scheduling problems and concerns related to black tenting, students’ well-being and the increasingly commercial image of Krzyzewskiville, Duke Student Government changed the tenting policy for the upcoming basketball season—and more changes could be on the way.
Because of scheduling complications, the men’s game against the University of Maryland—one that students tent traditionally for—will not be offered as an option for tenting this year. The game falls on Jan. 11, which is also the first day of the spring semester.
With the Maryland game out, an upcoming online poll will provide students with five other game choices for tenting: men’s games against Wake Forest University and the University of Miami as well as women’s games against the University of Tennessee and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Students may also choose only to tent for the men’s UNC game.
The option to tent for a women’s game is unprecedented, but head line monitor and senior Lauren Troyer does not think students will vote in favor it.
“I wouldn’t really expect it,” she said. “But it would be nice.”
Black tenting, which was offered for the first time last year and provides more structure to pre-semester tenting, also has an uncertain future. The DSG tenting committee will hold an open forum Sept. 6 in the Bryan Center to discuss various K-ville issues, including the potentially negative impact of black tenting on students’ academics and health. The time period allotted for tenting stands to be significantly shortened, with the possibility of black tenting being eliminated entirely.
“The more stringent policy for black tenting was supposed to create a situation where students did not feel obligated to get out there as early,” DSG President and senior Jesse Longoria explained. But more students than ever began camping early, causing a backlash of concern from the administration.
“University officials would like to shorten the length of tenting,” Longoria noted, citing general concerns related to tenters prolonged exposure to “the elements” and students losing sight of academic responsibilities while living in K-ville.
Piling mounds of trash and other debris were also a problem for last year’s tenters. Though no final plans have been established yet, Troyer is looking to resolve the situation by offering grace—which allows students to leave their tents—to tenters who pick up litter throughout K-Ville.
In addition, tenters may potentially earn one night’s grace by having eight out of twelve tent members attend women’s basketball games. With this incentive, the tenting committee hopes to raise attendance for events other than men’s basketball games throughout the spring season.
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