Duke Student Government met Wednesday to hear changes proposed to tenting policy for this year’s basketball season, approve over $48,000 in funding requests and establish new outdoor seating on West Campus.
Changes to tenting policy
Line monitors shared their plans for the upcoming basketball season and proposed updates to tenting guidelines.
The initial black tenting test is tentatively scheduled to take place on Jan. 8, the first day of classes for the spring semester. In years where more than 80 groups express interest in black tenting — the most intense of three levels — the test is used to determine which groups will receive the first spots on the lawn of Krzyzewskiville. Groups that successfully complete the black tenting season will be allowed to enter Cameron Indoor Stadium first for the Duke-North Carolina home basketball game.
This year, the window for black tenting registration has been increased from 24 hours to 48 hours in order to accommodate those who may be traveling during winter break or experiencing technical difficulties. The registration form — used to indicate a group’s interest in black tenting — will be launched one week before FDOC.
Black tenting is set to start four days after, at noon on Jan. 12. Blue tenting will start at the end of that week on Jan. 18, and white tenting will start five days later on Jan. 23. This year’s tenting season will be just short of three weeks, ending at 5 p.m. on Jan. 29. Tents must be removed by 2 p.m. the following day in advance of the Feb. 1 game.
In another change to tenting policy, the 70 highest-scoring groups at the initial tenting test will be given black tenting spots, while 10 additional groups will have blue tenting spots reserved.
The season will also see a change to policies regarding “dirty tenting” — tenting that starts in the middle of a tenting period. The change requires groups to begin tenting at 8 p.m. on the day of their decision, as opposed to prior years that allowed groups to choose any start time.
SOFC funding
Senators approved the following Student Organization Funding Committee funding requests:
Asian Students Association: $9,420 out of its requested $11,340 to cover photographer and space rental costs for its annual “Converge” showcase in February, with catering, additional space rental costs and a second photographer cut.
Duke University Improv: $1,760 funded in full to cover space rental costs for its Dec. 5 “Little Big Show.”
Business Oriented Women: $9,967.15 out of its requested $11,337 to cover catering costs, space rentals and other event supplies for its Dec. 3 holiday party, with additional catering, a photo booth and some event supply costs cut.
Duke Multicultural Organization: $8,500 funded in full to cover space rental costs for its Martin Luther King Jr. tribute performance.
Duke Chinese Theater: $9,210 out of its requested $10,410 to cover catering costs, space rentals and event supplies for their Nov. 23 performance of “Accidental Death of an Anarchist,” with some catering costs cut.
Duke Cyber: $6,500 out of its requested $8,600 to cover transportation and lodging costs for its Feb. 1 competition at the University of Texas at Austin, with cuts made to fit SOFC policy.
Senators also approved a budgetary statute of $2,000 for the new Small Town/Rural Student Coalition to cover catering costs and event supplies for their upcoming events to attract new members.
Additionally, a “monthly finances special presentation” was held in closed session.
New outdoor seating
Senators approved $1,335 in funding for a budgetary statute that would add outdoor seating to Craven and Kilgo Quads. The initiative, planned and funded in partnership with Student Affairs, would add 10 tables and 40 chairs to areas that previously had outdoor seating before the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding contributed by DSG represents 10% of the project’s estimated cost.
Committee updates
Following the 2024 general election, DSG’s equity and outreach committee met with Chris Simmons, vice president for government relations, “about ways to support undocumented students.”
The campus life committee is planning to launch sign-ups for its airport transportation initiative by the end of the week.
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Jeremiah Fang is a Trinity junior and a staff reporter for the news department.