by Harold
Laura joined me in time for the step show, and then we headed over to a reception at the “K-Center for Academic Excellence,” which I call the building next to Cameron. The ground floor was a Duke Sports Hall of Fame honoring all our past champions (who knew the women’s golf team has won five NCAA titles in 10 years?)
The top (sixth?) floor is Coach K’s office. I’ve heard a myth that in order to get to K’s office, the elevator requires a fingerprint scan. Well, I’m happy to report that it’s not true — to access the top floor, you need a fingerprint scan AND the proper code. So it’s not enough to cut off the secretary’s finger to get past the scan, you also need to know the right sequence of numbers.
Next we went to the dance itself, which was surprisingly festive considering it took place in the Wilson Rec Center and the IM building. The 10-piece band and chocolate-covered strawberries were key.
Our Saturday started with a workshop led by an admissions officer, where I learned the following incredible fact: almost 50 percent of all valedictorians don’t get accepted to Duke. Considering I wasn’t even a valedictorian, that’s a scary thought. We were also told that, as directed by the original charter, Carolina residents get a slight preference. Yet another reason to join us down here — your kids have a better chance of going to Duke!
Homecoming ended with the football game between Duke and N.C. Central, an historically black school from Durham which is transitioning to Division II (in other words, a Division I program like Duke needs six wins to go to a bowl, and this matchup is so lopsided that this win can’t even count toward the total).
Previously I’ve said that I’m not sure how beating the crap out of someone in football is supposed to improve our schools’ relationship, other than to create feelings of sympathy when the score was 21-0 after three possessions. But I was struck with an interview I heard on the local news, where an older black woman said she wasn’t even allowed on Duke’s campus growing up, and now the team is playing in the stadium. Also, in the spirit of true hospitality, Duke allowed a 83-yard interception return and only led 21-14 with a minute left in the first half. Duke football = improving relationships, one turnover at a time.
Laura
Harold
