Congratulations to Dean Nowicki and the other members of Student Affairs for making a difficult, yet necessary choice. While current students may find this transition sudden and unjust, this decision is actually a reaction to a previous failed housing decision: the quad model.
The quad model was the predominant form of sophomore-junior housing from 2000-2011, an administrational effort to close the divide between fraternities, SLGs and the “independent” population. However, in 2006, the Campus Culture Initiative, the largest review of Duke student life in University history, revealed the quad model actually exacerbated circumstances, leading to more “independent” migration onto central campus and off-campus and simultaneous takeover of West Campus by fraternities and SLGs.
While some students may view this change as University censure of student life, it is actually quite the opposite. In reality, this is one enormous, administrational apology. Duke is doing something students rarely think ever happens: admitting fault.
Vivek Upadhyay, Trinity ’10
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