Cons of Duke?

<p>I'm trying to decide on a college list, and with the whole lacrosse scandal and sensationalized media, i'm asking the students to list the CONS of Duke..
list away...</p>

<p>The only con in my mind is the fact that now ignorant people (I'm not referring to you, don't worry) will sometimes assume things about my student body and my school based on the alleged actions of a few students and some sensationalized stories they may have read in Rolling Stone or seen on Nancy Grace. That's really it...and that will become old news soon. If I'm being completely honest with you, I think that every day I discovered something new that I love about my school. Now that I'm home for the summer, my friends from around here can't get me to shut up about how much I miss it and how much I want to be back.</p>

<p>Duke's a great academic institution with a really fun basketball program (among other sports, of course), good weather, an intelligent, diverse, and interesting student body, a beautiful campus, and tons of unique opportunities (like in volunteerism and research). I know you asked for cons, and I mentioned the only problem I really have, but seriously...at a school like this, how can you go wrong?</p>

<p>Well, for the next three to six months, the biggest con would probably be the chance that a reporter will be in your face on campus haha</p>

<p>slash while you're just trying to eat lunch.</p>

<p>yeah the biggest con is that you can't actually read the chron in public anymore or someones in your face.</p>

<p>A common sentiment among the Duke student body about the #1 issue that is wrong with Duke is the attempt to divorce Duke from the motto of "work hard, play hard." Many think that they are trying to kill the 2nd half of that phrase. It's kind of been an ongoing trend... they shut down kegs on the quad in 1995. They've made it more difficult to register and throw on-campus parties. They shut down parties on campus alot. Now they look like they might be ending tailgate - which is a pretty big Duke tradition (although you won't really know it until you're a student - it doesn't get much press). LDOC (A campus-wide celebration of the Last Day of Classes Second Semester... usually a major band comes and most students party a bit) has been more closely scrutinized. The list goes on, but I'm sure you get the point. Some feel that this is causing more of the partying to take place off campus in Durham - like the lax party and that more trouble is going to come when you do typical college behavior in a city setting whereas by keeping in behind the shroud of the Duke forest it is more controllable. </p>

<p>Anyway whether that's right or wrong, it's a prevalent view. But don't get me wrong, Duke is an absolutely amazing place and everyone that goes there who I know doesn't ever want to leave. So you should definately give it a shot.</p>

<p>The only con I can think of is the bus system. I'm really going miss East Campus, but I hated taking the bus. (Not to mention I was constantly afraid my bus would blow up. :D)</p>

<p>I dislike the food but ARAMARK is gone so it'll likely be better</p>

<p>
[quote]
The only con I can think of is the bus system.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Haha - this may be an uncommon sentiment, but even though I'm glad to be living on West this year, I sorta enjoyed the buses this past year. One of my favorite memories of freshman year is actually from one of the Friday night 3 AM bus rides back to East, during which my friend and I wanted to prove that everyone in our generation knows all of the lyrics to Smashmouth's "All Star," began singing it, and soon had an entire bus packed full of mostly-drunken Duke freshmen belting out the lyrics. The bus driver was so, so confused...but it was awesome.</p>

<p>haha...I know the lyrics to All-star! =)</p>

<p>bandcampgirl, that made me really happy.</p>

<p>Yes, I know the lyrics too u_u; though not in order when off the top of my head.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Not to mention I was constantly afraid my bus would blow up.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Were you on West when that bus caught on fire? I was mad at myself for forgetting my camera. :D</p>

<p>I was on A bus when the bus caught on fire. I was going from west to east (not the other way around, unfortunately), and all of a sudden I hear another bus driver over their communication system say something about a bus being on fire. Then I saw the story the next morning.</p>

<p>I got to take the wonderful trek up chapel drive to make it to my 4:40 the day the bus caught on fire.</p>

<p>get this. im running late so i grab a c-1 after waiting for the c-3 forever. after walking all the way to physics from ugrad admissions i see the c-3 pull up to the physics building right as i get there and half my class gets out.</p>

<p>but it was worth it to see the smoking bus.</p>

<p>Ahh the buses! Such bittersweet memories! I remember hating having to take a C-2 to west on random times during the weekend, especially during K-ville. Still though I remember even better times like after games where the entire thing was packed eye to eye with crazies; or trying to do some drunken bus surfing (not holding on to anything). As freshmen, the busses will become your cruel mistresses.</p>

<p>They're going to run a C1 on weekends now. That should make things somewhat more bearable.</p>

<p>bumpbumpbump</p>

<p>the biggest con is that you'll go to this school and if you are arrested on trumped up charges you may be hung out to dry.
Of course, based on what has supposedly happened to the loss of a good job to the LAX captain you may eventually own Durham and quite possibly Duke itself.
Everyone keeps saying Brodhead has done a great job in all of this mess. I'm not so sure.</p>

<p>"Of course, based on what has supposedly happened to the loss of a good job to the LAX captain you may eventually own Durham and quite possibly Duke itself."</p>

<p>Huh? What's the story?</p>

<p>see newsweak (sic) latest on msn.com. I believe the article talks about the fact that he evidently had a job lined up that vanished due to the indictment. legalspeak meaning: if you suffer monetary harm, you have another cause of action. right now i'm seeing a multitude of legal actions coming down the road ranging from federal civil to possible libel.</p>

<p>Just read the article. Nice they title it "Doubts About Duke" when the piece is all doubts about Durham. Thanks Newsweak.</p>