<p>^^. I got kind of scared reading it. BUT I do know that the media tends to generalize and stereotype.</p>
<p>Any current students have thoughts on this?</p>
<p>Well I mean the article doesnt even say that it is "the vast majority" of students or anything... I mean one of the main focuses of the articles is that everyone involved was involved by their own choice... if you arent interested than there are other things to do.</p>
<p>Oh, it's true in the sense that they were reasonably accurate about what went on at one party off-campus with a Duke fraternity, and that the students interviewed were actually Duke students, but like I said in the other thread about the Rolling Stones article, that's not what most of Duke is like, its entirely possible to go for four years, have fun, and never see a party like that at Duke if you so choose. I'd highly recommend reading through the other thread here about it.</p>
<p>I'm going to say no....</p>
<p>(it's elliott, btw)</p>
<p>I got elected as an independent, so there!</p>
<p>I'm kind of worried by the rolling stones article too. I also read an article read by a Duke professor who taught there for 13 years, and who said that one-third of Duke's students are the "dumb racist jocks, misogynistic frat boys, submissive/catty sorority girls, and
arrogant and insecure academic achievers" described in a disparaging novel about duke. </p>
<p>here's the article:
<a href="http://www.duke.edu/%7Estuart/tomwolfe.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.duke.edu/~stuart/tomwolfe.html</a></p>
<p>Interesting...he is a professor of geology. If I had to teach "Rocks for Jocks" I might get that impression too.</p>
<p>Don't worry, people. Duke is not full of narcissistic dumbasses. You will find plenty of amazing people right down the hall your freshman year and realize how bogus all these journalists are in their simplistic portrayals of one of the best schools in the world.</p>
<p>Professor Rojstaczer (who, incidentally, was not a professor of engineering when that article was written (and I should know since I was assistant chair the semester he elected not to stand for reappointment)) is not what one might refer to as the the most positive person in the history of creation. From his enumerated list, his bias becomes clear: "surrounded" by "wealthy Yankee students"? Durham as a slum? Leased SUVs for athletes due to booster connections? So, read that as you will.</p>
<p>I'll go ahead and counter what he said - I've been at Duke longer and taught more students anyway :) I agree with him that for a slice of Duke's undergraduate population, Wolfe's portrayal of DuPont can, with some scrubbing out of artistic hyperbole, apply - same with the Rolling Stone article.</p>
<p>The <em>pervasiveness</em>, on the other hand, I take serious issue with. Basing a number like 30% on a week long field trip per year is a bit...erm...tenuous.</p>