Even if the alleged rape proves false, this is a good opportunity for Duke to improve its campus culture.
Many have already started to do this, blaming specific groups known for substance abuse and rowdy behavior. Some professors and students lament Duke's desire to exist as both an athletic powerhouse and a top academic institution, while others lash out at the greek system and legacy students.
Regardless of which groups they single out, these critics realize the negative consequences of destructive elements within the campus culture. While underage drinking and wild partying in no way mean a rape occurred March 13, they certainly create the right environment for accusations of sexual abuse.
Certain athletic teams and fraternities, as well as wealthier students and legacies, surpass others when it comes to building negative perceptions. Combine that with instances of lower academic credentials and performance by some in these groups, and those who come here looking for academic excellence and scholarship are bound to be upset.
Some feel that eliminating these groups would improve the quality of Duke's education, because undergraduates who care more about having a good time than acquiring knowledge are often obnoxious and distracting.
Engineers and science majors especially are fed up with the trouble caused by those who feel that as long as they receive a Duke diploma, they have done well.
Ridding ourselves of greeks, athletes and legacies, however, would be foolhardy.
Our athletes in particular are extremely talented, as they have managed both to succeed in their respective sports and to perform well enough academically to gain admission to the University. People may not like the way some students behave outside the classroom, but it is important to realize athletes' contributions to this University and society in general.
Consequently, an outright denouncement of fraternities and rowdy athletic teams in no way solves our problems. How some athletes conduct themselves should be scrutinized, and bad behavior should receive harsh punishment. But an easier and more efficient way of addressing campus culture exists-and that begins in the classroom.
If Duke wants to control the most egregious actions of its undergraduates, then it must realize that bad behavior is merely symptomatic of the University's failure to provide a rigorous academic environment.
The Trinity College curriculum does an excellent job of giving students a solid, liberal arts background. But it is marred by grade inflation and courses that do not demand quality work from students. Many earn grades they do not deserve because professors have fallen into the habit of pleasing everyone.
Not all Dukies are created equal when it comes to motivation or even intelligence. This presents Trinity professors with what one has called a "one-room schoolhouse" dilemma in which students range from those who write high school-quality work to others who may someday pen a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. As a result, students are often graded based upon how well they perform within their ability level rather than upon the quality of their work.
B+ seems to be a safe grade for professors; that might explain why the average GPA in Trinity College is around a 3.4-just a hair above a B+.
Worse than grade inflation, however, are the safety nets the Trinity curriculum provides for those who want to avoid tough classes. Instead of forcing students to learn actual mathematics or sciences, Duke gives weaker (or opportunistic) students the option of taking classes that are in no way demanding or fulfilling. In addition, there are some professors at Duke notorious for being less difficult than others.
A good GPA, then, sometimes reflects neither the intelligence nor the effort of the student, but rather his or her acumen when it comes to selecting courses each semester.
If administrators and professors truly care about improving campus culture, then they must first change the University's academic environment. Transforming Duke from what may seem to be a Gothic country club for some into a truly prestigious institution for all means demanding only the best from its students.
Jamie Deal is a Trinity sophomore. This is his final column.
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