Student leaders comment on ALE

As the leaders of various student organizations we feel it is important to respond to the events that have taken place at off-campus parties in recent weeks. We want to outline the situation, assure you that we are working to provide all students with viable social options and direct you to information concerning your rights.

Over the past week almost 200 students received citations for underage drinking, using false identification or aiding and abetting underage persons in the neighborhoods off East Campus. Neighborhood residents have voiced a growing concern during the past several years about the amount of trash and noise that house parties on their streets have caused. In response to these complaints and the desire to curb underage drinking, Durham City Police and the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agency have chosen to enforce a far stricter no-tolerance policy with regard to the continuation of student organized parties off-campus. The events of the past week represent a trend that is not just local but one that can be noted in other examples around the state and the nation.

At neighboring N.C. State and UNC, there has been an effort to restrict traditional party scenes such as the Halloween celebration on Franklin Street and the Brent Road section near the State campus. Duke is not alone in its struggle to deal with the negative consequences of alcohol. Students who choose to drink either on- or off-campus must realize that they risk the consequences, including legal ramifications for those under 21. While this is a frustrating situation, the no-tolerance policy on underage drinking, and the strict enforcement of noise ordinances and other policies will continue.

While it is necessary to understand the past, it is imperative that we direct our attention toward the future. This is a critical time for students and administrators to communicate about what other viable social options students can pursue. Duke Student Government, Campus Council, the Duke University Union, greek leadership and administrators are working to ensure that on-campus social gatherings can be safe and fun. Student organizations are planning numerous events and programs on West Campus in the coming weeks. We will continue to ensure that a vibrant social life is an important part of the Duke experience.

We invite other campus leadership and all students to take part in this effort and encourage everyone to educate themselves about their legal rights and expectations in North Carolina. A website addressing common questions and concerns that students have expressed related to incidents involving the law and alcohol has been created. All are advised to visit the website at http://www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/ale and contact DSG, the Union or Campus Council with ideas or suggestions about future programming or policy.

Jesse Longoria

President, DSG

Jay Ganatra

President, Campus Council

Katie Jandl

President, Panhellenic Association

Jay McKenna

President, Inter-Fraternity Council

Chris Kallmeyer

President, Duke University Union

Brandi Stewart

President, National Pan-Hellenic Council

Editor’s note: The limit of 250 words was waived for this letter.

Some scientists consider ID valid

Emin Hadziomanovic’s column on Intelligent Design (“Christianity Lite—transubstantialicious!” August 30, 2005) is inexcusably poorly researched and makes its claims based on misinformation. Before writing reviews in the future, I recommend that he look more carefully into what his subjects actually do and do not say.

The author’s claims reveal a shocking lack of knowledge as to what the Bible, Christians and proponents of Intelligent Design actually say. Even the most rabid “young earth” fundamentalist Christians, for instance, do not claim the earth is only 2000 years old. That number is the time frame since Christ’s birth, actually around 3 B.C.E., a date that is supported by credible, secular historians.

Similarly, the presentation of the content of Intelligent Design is also highly inaccurate, and the underlying assumptions are much too flawed to deal with in a short letter to the editor. I recommend that anyone who would like to know what claims and theories are actually posited by ID proponents read one of the books which most succinctly lays out these theories—such as Reason in the Balance or Darwin on Trial. Try Darwin’s Black Box by biochemistry professor Michael Behe or The Biotic Message by Walter ReMine.

Don’t settle for diatribes based on misinformation; go to the source and decide for yourself. I think you will be surprised to find that an increasing number of scientists are concluding that the theories of Methodological Naturalism do not, after all, stand up to scientific scrutiny, and many of these scientists are not Christians at all, but rather are merely struggling with intellectual integrity and are willing to admit that the Emperor Darwin has no clothes.

Kimberly Sorbello

Davis, Calif.