New Year, New Duke

The end of year tradition of devising laundry lists of ways to improve oneself is decidedly an odd one. For most, these earnest “New Years resolutions”—eat healthier, exercise regularly or watch less TV, perhaps—get cast aside in tantalizing heaps of fries from the Tower and weekend Netflix de-stressing binge sessions. Ah well, to be tabled for next year’s resolution list. Yet even if resolutions seem made to be broken, they are valuable exercises nonetheless. They incite reflection and introspection and the possibility of challenging the status quo. They are goals that, however ephemeral in practice, provide an aspired vision of self to slowly plod towards, even if simply in spirit. That is why today we present a brief smattering of resolutions for the Duke community as we head into the ambiguities and glories of year 2015.

1) Pop the “Duke Bubble”—We have long encouraged students to step beyond campus’s gothic walls and explore Durham, a city whose vestigial tobacco warehouses lends a rustic air to its unique persona and thriving art scene. The Durham Performing Arts Center promises an exciting lineup of performances, while the American Tobacco District winter ice rink can provide weekend entertainment beyond flashing Netflix screens. We commend the Senior Class Council for subsidizing tickets for the production Wicked at DPAC, and encourage more such forays into Durham’s lively arts scene. Take the Bull City Connector and visit the Saturday farmer’s market, study in local coffee shops and explore Durham’s illustrious food scene—Southern Living named it the South’s Tastiest City.

Yet even more, get to know our Durham neighbors and seek to partner with them. Last semester’s protest against the events in Ferguson witnessed collaborations between the Duke and Durham communities—joint efforts that help foster a Duke-Durham relationship built on trust and camaraderie. As Duke students and Duke University, we should strive to be part of Durham rather than simply in it.

2) Continue Duke Football prowess (and win a national championship).

3) Blend social and academic “spheres”—For many, the balancing act between being a college student, Duke socialite and Cameron Crazie results in a strict compartmentalization of these “spheres.” Debates about the ethics of war or math theorems never leave the classroom walls and end as soon as the books are shut for the night. Dorm halls, dinner conversations, bus rides, Shooters nights out—for most, these are no spaces for intellectual inquiry. Academics and social life in campus status quo seem to occupy separate, mutually exclusive spheres. Yet the unique joy of college is to be always surrounded by similarly curious and smart individuals from whom there is endless knowledge to be learned. So this year, continue your debates about philosophy, neuroethics, economics beyond the classroom and to the dinner table, to the casual hangouts with friends and into the wee hours of the night.

4) Administrative transparency and student input—We have often called for greater communication between the administration and students. As campus construction continues and exciting curriculum changes are in the works, we challenge students to voice their opinions and the administration to communicate with students and to take into greater consideration the student experience. The ongoing review of Curriculum 2000 is a prime opportunity for students to have their input heard in the creation of a revised curriculum—be it through surveys, meetings or task groups.

The New Year brings with it the opportunity to reflect, introspect and actively change. We invite all to reflect on our proposed resolutions for the Duke community—to ponder, perhaps accept some and deny others—and to work towards improving our home away from home. Welcome to 2015.