The Office of Community Interaction of the Duke Student Government serves as an advocate for students and student groups, coordinates the Inter-Community Council, ensures strong ties with the administration and faculty, promotes interaction among students, and attempts to foster new and old bonds with the Durham community.

Students on East Campus during class. Photo courtesy of Duke Photography

Hot Issues at a Glance

Off-Campus Parties

Durham residents, angered by recent neighborhood parties, took action by contacting media outlets and university administrators as well as exploring other outlets.  DSG contacted students living in the area and is currently implementing a set of strategies to work with neighbors and address complaints. 

Statement from VP of CI to Community Members

Dear Neighbor,

Duke students have been keeping up to date and reading over the posts and articles that have been written over the past few weeks. The Duke Student Government has spent that time meeting with neighbors, students and administrators to gauge community sentiments and devise solutions. We empathize with the concerns about loud parties, trash, inappropriate behavior, etc. There is a very strong desire on behalf of students to address the concerns and allow for a healthier environment. We are currently forming a formal off-campus committee to proactively deal with the problems. We would love nothing more than to find ways to work with neighbors constructively. We are engaging in discussions with the administration in conjunction with Blue Spark about finding more and new locations for social events. Contrary to what some expressed on the message boards, most Duke students want to foster a more positive atmosphere in the community. Please feel free to contact me if you wish to speak further. We will continue to be in touch with community members and will work to find solutions.

Best,

Joel Kliksberg
Vice President of Community Interaction
Duke Student Government

Recent Articles

CHRONICLE: Groups aim to alter off-campus climate
by Seyward Darby
In the beer-saturated aftermath of the most recent spree of student parties near East Campus, an increasing number of people are ...

CHRONICLE: Alcohol changes shift social life
by Seyward Darby
Kegs on the quad. Frat parties on Main West. A packed Hideaway. Once hallmarks of Duke’s party scene, these sights are now things ...

CHRONICLE: Debate over parties off campus rages on
by Seyward Darby
Christina Headrick hates when her neighborhood looks “trashy.” A resident of the Trinity Park area near East Campus, ...

N&O:  Durham residents propose solution

The keggers in Trinity Park likely would run dry if the party poopers get control of the party houses. A dozen Trinity Park neighbors, fed... updated February 8, 2005 12:00 AM

AP: BLUE DEVILS: POLICE BUST 'OLD SCHOOL' WRESTLING AT DUKE FRAT
USA Today, AP, Jan. 25 -- Duke students were found last weekend re-enacting a movie scene with inflatable wading pool and female students. The university is reviewing whether the party warrants disciplinary action against the students involved.

DUKE STUDENT AFFAIRS NEWS: Vice President Larry Moneta Responds to Community Concerns About Off-Campus Parties

Martin Luther King Day

The Community Interaction Committee actively participated in this year's planning of MLK day in light of low attendance in previous years.  The student committee headed by DSG Senator Logan Leinster included Senators Keith Cornelius, Prabhat Mishra and Wintta Woldemariam as well as members of the Black Student Alliance, the Freeman Center, and the Duke University Union.  Together they brought forth an array of events on MLK day including panel discussions with William Raspberry, Ariel Dorfman, Jim Joseph, Bruce Payne, Alex Harris and Peter Storey, William H. Schlesinger.  They day was concluded by an address by civil rights activist, criminal justice critic and University of California, Santa Cruz professor Angela Davis.  For more information about MLK Day visit Duke News.

Palestinian Solidarity Movement Conference

The decision by Duke University students to host the 2004 conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement (PSM) has sparked extensive discussion on campus and more widely. The university has been criticized by some for agreeing to host the conference and praised by others for promoting free speech. In light of recent events the Community Interaction Committee has implemented the following strategy:

• DSG has met several times with student leaders and administrators to discuss the conference and ways to make it as healthy and as educational as possible.

• A closed door meeting was convened on Wednesday Oct. 6, 2004 to discus logistical issues with student leaders of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement and the Joint Israel Initiative as well as administrators.

• Two letters will be sent out to the student body by DSG President, Pasha Majdi. One will explain the contents of the conference and the safety precautions that are being implemented and the other will highlight some of the topics discussed at the closed door meeting held on Oct. 6.

• Several DSG members will be serving on the Peace Team assembled by the Dean of Students Office that will act as mediators during the weekend. Members of DSG’s Executive Team as well Senators of the Community Interaction Committee will be available throughout the conference.
  
• After a lengthy discussion, members of Duke Student Government narrowly voted to support a resolution affirming academic freedom but striking all mention of the PSM conference. For more information see The Chronicle article “Student Government Endorses Duke's Commitment to Academic Freedom.”
  
  
• The Inter-Community Council called for respectful dialogue
  in an open letter to the Duke community.

For more information about the conference visit http://www.palestineconference.com/ or http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/psm/index.html.

Safety, Security and Police-Student Relations

A series of armed robberies occurring on and near campus during the first part of September as well as several allegations of misconduct by police officers, raised student concern about safety and forced the University to “flood the campus” with security officers and explore new options to overhaul the entire structure of campus security. DSG’s Community Interaction and Athletics & Campus Services Committees have been working closely on the issue and have developed a series of measures.

• The Inter-Community Council convened a session entitled “Safety and Security at Duke” with guest speakers Kemel Dawkins, vice president for campus services, and Maj. Phyllis Cooper of the Duke University Police Department. The dialogue between student leaders and administrators addressed incidents at Café Parizade, police-student interaction and crime prevention. For more information see article in the Chronicle entitled “ICC discusses safety issues, student-police relations."

• Kemel Dawkins, vice president for campus services, made an appearance before the DSG Senate on Wednesday Sept. 29, 2004 to discuss recent updates to campus security. Dawkins announced that following recent incidents on- and off-campus, the University was extending the joint security patrols by the Duke University Police Department in collaboration with off-duty Durham police officers from three to seven days per week. He also noted that 10 additional officers have been added to the patrol forces and that investigations into updating campus safety conditions are underway. For more information see The Chronicle article “Academic freedom, campus safety top DSG agenda.”

• DSG Senators and Vice-Presidents have been in constant meetings with administrators and students.

• A barbeque was organized by DSG and Co-Sponsored by the Duke University Police Department on Thursday Sept. 30, 2004 to address police-student interaction. Over 400 people attended the event.

• DSG is currently working on a joint student-administration safety initiative. As part of this plan, a student and police code of conduct will be developed. For more information contact Vice President of Community Interaction, Joel Kliksberg or Vice President of Athletics & Campus Services, Jesse Longoria.

• Students and administrators are all still waiting for the results of the investigation of alleged misconduct and racism by Duke Police at Café Parizade. For more information see The Chronicle article “Police detain 2 at Parizade” or read the press release issued by the Office of the DSG President and the Vice President of Community Interaction “Weekend Events Warrant DUPD Response, DSG Requests Meetings with Administrators.” [word doc]

Professor Parviz Ghadimi’s Work Authorization

The studies of students at several schools have been interrupted by the cancellation of Professor Parviz Ghadimi’s work authorization. The Committee for Community Interaction passed legislation to support an examination of the mathematics professor’s work visa. The committee will contact Duke Congressperson David Price, D-N.C., and Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., to expedite the probe into Ghadimi’s work authorization. For more information see the resolution “Supporting the Renewed Work Authorization of Parviz Ghadimi.” [word doc]

 

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