<p>My cousins in Giles, and from what is sounds, it is one crazy dorm filled with awesome people (definetely sounds like he's having a good time, can't say the same for his liver lol
)</p>
<p>When I went to visit Duke with my daughter, I was at the back of our group and could overhear the conversation of the next tour guide with another visitor. The visitor was expressing the concerns of the original poster, with the emphasis not only on preppy, but also Southern. The tour guide assured her that the Duke student body was incredibly diverse. The visitor was reassured, but I, being from the "Deep South", wasn't, because the tenor of the guide's comments were very anti-Southern. She seemed to be of the opinion that you had to grow up north of the Mason-Dixon not to have bubbles in your head, although she did admit that she had met one or two Southerners who were not total idiots. Overhearing that encounter was the only negative in an otherwise great visit, although my daughter was concerned about the town of Durham, and the comments herein on that subject are enlightening.</p>
<p>Eh, I don't know. There's lots of people here from the South. I'm from North Carolina (not exactly the deep South, but still), and there's not a lot of anti-Southern bias, although it's hard as heck to find decent sweet tea. </p>
<p>As far as Durham/safety, perhaps I should quote a nice little e-mail we got...
[quote]
The Duke University Police Department is investigating three burglaries and a break-in that have occurred this week at Central Campus Apartments.</p>
<p>In three of the incidents, Duke students awoke in the morning or returned from running and found money or items missing, police said. In another case, a student found a man standing in her apartment.</p>
<p>We take these incidents very seriously, and we will continue to investigate, said Duke Police Maj. Phyllis Cooper. We ask the community to partner with us to apprehend whoever is responsible.</p>
<p>The first incident occurred Tuesday at 1915 Yearby St. A student told police he locked his apartment door at midnight, and when he awoke at 7 a.m. he noticed the door was not closed, according to an incident report. The student reported $150 missing from his wallet.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, two students in an apartment at 1708 Pace St. told police a class ring, cash and credit cards were stolen some time after 1:30 a.m., according to the incident report.</p>
<p>On Thursday, a student in 2015 Yearby St.reported that she found a man standing in her apartment at 12:33 a.m. He ran from the apartment when she screamed. The student told police the man was wearing a red shirt.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Of course, most students live on East or West, so this isn't directly applicable. However, it must be admitted that Durham isn't one of Duke's strengths. I like Durham, though, and 9th street is interesting.</p>
<p>doesn't duke have the largest private police or something?
i mean thats pretty cool but i kind of wish it wasnt needed..</p>
<p>hm. </p>
<p>for the past 2 summers ive stayed at the west campus for TIP courses..
i couldnt sleep much so id look out the window and they would always be someone on patrol, which is pretty cool. lots of bikers, too. so thats good.</p>
<p>anyway.. my sister went to unc and she said she met a lot of people from duke at franklin street and "unc places." she said they were bored around duke so alot hung out with the unc crowd..</p>
<p>I go to UNC a lot, but probably because Duke really doesn't have a franklin street substitute. I mean, it is so close and if you're from anywhere in NC chances are you know about 18 people there.</p>
<p>I generally feel pretty safe walking around campus, like, if I have to run to e-print at 3 AM or want a smoothie from Trinity Cafe at midnight...there's always a guy patrolling and generally another student or two walking around. Of course my walk from the chem library on science drive late last night probably wasn't the safest thing to do...I didn't die or anything.</p>
<p>^^^^
Safe rides?</p>
<p>Agreed about Chapel Hill. Speaking of which, Franklin Street will be crazeeee on Halloween. :D</p>
<p>I'm Duke 09 and I can try to answer some of your questions if you have</p>
<p>Were you at the WF game today, bignick? That was so sad. :(</p>
<p>Safe rides...I should probably program that into my cell phone...</p>