<p>Durham is not a college town. The city has transformed from a place known for crime and gangs with not much to do to a diverse arts center known for great food. There is always a festival to go to. The farmers market downtown is a real attraction with more than farm goods sold. The restaurants are amazing the the food trucks unique. Race relations that were once difficult, are now less than nearby cities such as Raleigh. </p>
<p>But, Duke is not integrated much into the new city life. Historically it’s been a separate entity from the city. This is probably because of race differences. It is not literally walled off (there are walls, but not tall), but isolated from the city despite the fact that Duke depends on it’s workforce. Lately, with the revival of downtown Durham, I see more students at volunteer projects and often the professors require some sort of volunteer effort for the classes. But, the historical wealth and race differences between the campus and the city are difficult to overcome.</p>