Blog

With the end nigh, I find myself taking the long way home, unnecessarily driving or more accurately crawling up Chapel Drive. Soaking it up as it were. Enjoying the flood of years past washing to the front of my mind.

I’m not alone. Walking to blue zone yesterday, I ran into a block of my friends leaving just having paid tribute to Tailgate with key and can. They were strolling through the Indiana limestone arches visiting their favorite spots on campus. Their next stop: Bella Union, a place that makes living in Edens infinitely better (Few can keep Alpine).

No one warned me about the wall I’d hit senior year. I heard that I would reach a point when I’d just say screw it and do things for completion because I’m almost out the door. I have more important things to do like skipping class and sitting on the plaza with some friends and some of the finest Busch Light or walking to Ben & Jerry’s to get a scoop on free cone day. It’s LSOC (last semester of college – because Duke loves useless acronyms); I’m supposed to be on an emotional high and full of life. Yet whenever someone asks me, how I’m doing I reply, “not that great.” Which generally elicits the “BUT YOU’RE A SENIOR!” response, particularly from underclassmen.

The new mural completely transforms the front of the the Arts Annex into a new, inviting and exciting front for this creative space.

by Deborah Hackney, Associate Director, Leadership Development and Social Action

Leadership can occur and even thrive without a title or position.

That's what students told us after a recent leadership program we hosted. For many, this was an epiphany that eradicated previously held notions. Rather than being in the front initiating and creating plans, students boldly reported that they understood how they could also make a difference through influence and steady participation with others toward a collective vision.

Leading without the requirement of formal position or title is a main tenet of our leadership framework. We posit that as citizens of Duke, Durham and the world, our abilities to make positive change can happen within or outside of a role.

by Alex Shapanka

Earlier this week, I had a surprise visit from Lindsay Tomson, a friend who graduated from Duke last year. As we drove around Durham, she expressed her nostalgia for college. But Lindsay wasn’t lamenting the loss of parties, late nights or freedom from responsibility. She missed feeling important and the sense of community afforded to us at Duke.

In leaving college, our established reputations remain…in Durham and with those we have relationships. Everything for which we worked is done. I won’t be planning concerts for 6,000 of my peers next year. I won’t help organize KVille. And I won’t be making suggestions through these blog posts. I won’t feel consequential.

by Michael Habashi, Chair, Duke Honor Council, Trinity ‘13

#whatstheHonorCouncilandwhats#DukeEncourage

I like to think that the Honor Council is like the marketing club of the Duke Community Standard. (If you don’t know it by now, go memorize it…AFTER you’re done reading the rest of this blog, of course.)

During Duke's two-week Arts Festival Oct. 26 - Nov. 4, student performances and works of art took center stage -- in the library, on the plaza, around the quad and elsewhere on campus. The images in this video are of original student artworks. Learn more about the arts at Duke. (video below)

Whether you are an established member of an arts organization or just discovering your passion for the arts, the new Arts Annex is perfect for you!  Opening this f

It's your first weekend back at school. So much to do, so many things to get done, so many people to see and meet. Who has time to organize and plan fun things to do?