Have your say on new line policy

On Monday, Duke Student Government announced a proposed new basketball lineup policy. According to Sunny Kantha, DSG vice president of athletics and campus services, and Head Line Monitor Roberto Bazzani, the policy was presented by Atheltic Department members and refined by line monitors and the DSG vice president for athletics and campus services, my definition of "behind closed doors." I met with Kantha last week to express my concerns; although he took some suggestions into account, the policy is still too questionable to blindly pass without more campus-wide discussion.

Thus, I formed the Facebook group "Protest Changes to the Duke Basketball Lineup Policy" to share my concerns. Here, I received comments from both Kantha and Bazzani: Kantha clarified that the plan includes a near real-time count of the line, while forming. This was one suggestion and I'm glad to see it adopted. I expressed concerns that diehard fans may be shutout of validation due to computer problems or people validating "just in case," Bazzani replied, "There are over 56 hours of time to validate so it should not be a problem for those that want to be first in validating and in line," dodging the question. Bazzani states, "Finally, this plan was brought to us by the Athletic Dept."

Unless DSG is being forced to adopt this policy, they should consider it on its own merit, rather than defer responsibility to another group. This, along with Bazzani's statement-"I know the validation system looks daunting and like a terrible idea. Trust me, when this was first presented I was completely against it. It was less than a week since I had been appointed head line monitor and they dropped this bombshell on me"-show a lack of confidence. I see no reason to give something potentially dangerous and far-reaching "a chance," as Bazzani requests, before a thorough consideration of all potential pitfalls-and not just by those who created it. Join the Facebook group, read my concerns about the policy, then think hard about it. If you have something to say, come to the DSG meeting today; be heard.

Barry Wright

Trinity '09