Blog

In this week’s segment of my blog series describing “The ‘What’s,’ ‘Who’s,’ and ‘Where’s’ that Make Duke So Special”, I will introduce you to a campus celebrity who ironically happens to be one of Duke’s best-kept secrets. His name is Oscar Dantzler, his title is Chapel Housekeeper, and his wisdom is absolutely remarkable.

For anyone visiting or exploring Duke for the first time, I would certainly recommend that the first place he or she should visit is the Duke Chapel. It is undoubtedly a campus landmark and is full of history and character. On the other hand, I would recommend that the first person he or she should meet is Oscar, because he is someone who can really bring that history and character to life.

The second blog post in my series of “The ‘Whats,’ ‘Whos,’ and ‘Wheres’ that Make Duke So Special” addresses a wonderful personality WHO happens to warm our days be it with her smile or her fresh brewed coffee.     

Like many of my first year peers at Duke, I can think of several ways in which transitioning to this University has altered my perspective.  Sometimes, I find myself gazing upward at the 210 foot tall Duke Chapel and simultaneously thinking of 210+ different things that I hope to accomplish here. It is times like these when the range of my imagination runs free and I consider the unlimited power I have to be the change I wish to see in the world.  Other times, I find myself taking a break between classes to converse with dining hall staff while I grab lunch at the East Campus Marketplace. It is times like these when I am reminded of the little ways in which we as individuals can make a difference.

Shortly after the World Trade Center complex was completed, acrobat Philippe Petit tight-roped across the gap between the two buildings, a quarter mile above the New York City streets.

By: Casey Tissue, Trinity Class of 2016

I’ve been writing blog posts about my first year experience at Duke as a way to share my story with Duke families.  I am working as an intern with the Parent and Family Programs, and so far I’ve written about topics including O-Week, academics, stress, and communication.  To follow up on my last post about keeping in touch with my family, this week I’m writing about how my relationships with family and friends changed when I returned home for breaks. 

By: Casey Tissue, Trinity Class of 2016

As a second semester freshman here at Duke, I’m working with the Parent and Family Programs to help reach out to the families of Duke students.  As part of this internship, I’m writing blogs to share my first year experiences.  I’ve recently written about orientation week, academics, and stress management. This week I am writing about the ways I communicate and keep in touch with my family back home.

By: Casey Tissue, Trinity Class of 2016

As part of an internship with the Parent and Family programs, I’m writing a blog about my freshman experience at Duke. My name is Casey, and I'm a second semester freshman here at Duke. In my past two blogs, I wrote about my first week here and my overall academic experience. In this blog I’ll talk about what I like to do for fun here at Duke.

By: Casey Tissue, Trinity Class of 2016

This is my second blog post now, and I'm writing as an intern with the Parent and Family Programs.  My name is Casey, and I'm a second semester freshman here at Duke.  In my last post I explained some of the challenges of Orientation Week as well as finding groups and organizations that I wanted to be a part of on campus.
 

By: Casey Tissue, Trinity Class of 2016

This semester I am participating in a first-year internship organization with the Parent and Family Programs.  As a part of the internship I am doing with the Parent and Family Programs, I have the opportunity to write blog posts and share the story of my college experience so far.

In honor of National Food Day and the beginning of the Green Devil Smackdown Competition, here's a blog written in April 2012 by Julianne Chiraz ('13), who was inspired by her experiences in a Duke Food Studies course in the spring of 2012.