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Duke Still Step Below Top Schools "Duke Still a Step Below Top Schools" was an article in the Duke Chronicle by Neal Sengupta that first appeared shortly after the release of U.S. News and World Report's College Rankings. The article discusses how Duke, while considered to be one of America's best collegs, still perenially underperforms with respect to traditional giants like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. This article is especially important because it shows that at Duke there is a wide-spread belief that the University is not one of "America's top schools," as the article even establishes that in the title. I believe that if Duke was one of America's top schools, the recent tension over drinking would not be as great as it is today, or it may not even exist. This article is important because it shows that there is doubt at the University regarding Duke's place among U.S. universities, and from this doubt comes the debate about alcohol.
"Big Men on Campus" was an article by Peter J. Boyer in The New Yorker written in the summer after the Duke Lacrosse Scandal. Boyer begins the article discussing the terms of hiring and the first months of current Duke President, Richard Broadhead. After this, Boyer accurately portrays the University's reaction to the Duke Lacrosse Scandal, as well as the splitting of the campus regarding alcohol and social life. The article does an excellent job in portraying an unbiased, clear representation of Duke's history, the roots of the University as well as the outside influences that have contributed to the University's current status today. This article is extremely helpful in gaining an understanding of the situation regarding "the opposing sides" in the Duke alcohol debate, because if the two sides are not accurately portrayed, then the entire argument afterwards is unaccurately skewed in a direction it is not meant to be.
"Where's My Sorting Hat?" is an article that was run in The Chronicle by Jordan Everson. Everson discusses how at Duke there is a split between two factions, partiers and non-partiers, which is strangely most evident during the week of tenting leading up to the Duke-North Carolina Men's Basketball Game, an event meant to unite the entire Duke campus against our in-state rival. This article further elaborates on how there is a rift at Duke between those who party and those who choose not to. With that said, it is important to recognize that rift because in discussing possible solutions for "The Duke Drinking Issue," it is important to recognize that a true solution will be able to satisfy both groups. Everson himself offers a solution for this matter in requiring all students to join some form of a selective living group.
Old Duke, New Duke is the official report filed at the request of then Duke President, Nannerl Keohane, by William Willimon, Dean of the Chapel. In his report, which is a follow-up to his original report on Duke life in 1993, Willimon describes campus life at the University. Willimon discusses campus life, especially focusing in on alcohol at Duke. Many of Willimon's critics claim he stressed alcohol too much. With that said, Willimon does reach the conclusion that alcohol plays a huge role in the social scene at Duke University. For some, that is fine. For others, it is unacceptable. Yet, in order for any argument to take place, it is important to recognize that alcohol truly is big enough at Duke to cause an argument.
"College Drinking" is a purely medical focus on alcohol and its implications socially, academically, and culturally in college. It is especially insightful because it was a study compiled here at Duke. "College Drinking" provides a look at alcohol use and its implications, including previous and future alcohol patterns at Duke. Compiled by Dr. Aaron M. White, it discusses alcohol medically along with the everyday view of alcohol. It is important to read because it effectively portrays many of the consequences of drinking and binge-drinking in college. Facebook, started by Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard University, has become the online social-guide to all colleges today. On facebook, I can guarantee you can find thousands of pictures, notes, and posts regarding social life and alcohol at real Universities, including Duke. If you have facebook, simply begin to wade through people's profiles and news feeds ready to encounter everything you want to see. If you don't have facebook, you can register for one for free. AlcoholEdu is required by all Duke students before beginning their freshmen year. AlcoholEdu educates students about alcohol, drugs, and the situations many students face regarding them in college. AlcoholEdu is loaded with information regarding alcohol, but unlike many other sites can place alcohol into contextual situations. Also, unlike many other alcohol education sites, AlcoholEdu portrays both people drinking responsibly and irresponsibly, with a balanced portrayal many of its competitors lack. It is important to visit AlcoholEdu because it not only will put alcohol in college into context for the reader, but it will also give an idea of what Duke students know (or are supposed to ) regarding alcohol before beginning college. A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges A Call to Action was a study published by the National Institutes of Health investigating the recent phenomenon of college drinking in America. The study is the largest comprehensive medical analysis of college drinking, both from a scientific and social point of view. The study first investigates college drinking as it exists in most American colleges. From that, it reaches a conclusion regarding the fast-growing culture of drinking allegedly forming at many universities, including Duke. From this, the study makes its own conclusion regarding this culture, as well as various other possibilities for campus culture. College Drinking - Changing the Culture College Drinking - Changing the Culture is a website sponsored by the government at http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov. It is sponsored by that National Insitute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It is the most extensive network of alcohol policies and information regarding American Universities. Also, located on the website are all of the NIH's studies on alcohol and alcohol abuse. It is by far the most extensive network of alcohol policies on the national level regarding college drinking. It as alot of excellent information regarding college drinking. The Onion - New Study Finds College Binge Drinking to be a Blast This article published by The Onion is an incredibly funny article written about how "collegiate binge drinking is a f*cking blast." While it offers minimal insight into the problem of collegiate binge drinking, it does provide an extremely comical satire on the issue. In addition to this, it's just plain funny. And after reading the report above, I would not blame you if you needed a laugh.
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