The Daily Triangle

by Laura

Tonight I’m going to venture out with some grad school ladies for a bachelorette party, and we’ll be stopping by a few of the hotspots that Dukies used to frequent on a Saturday night. Back then, those places seemed so far from the Gothic Wonderland bubble that groups would charter buses to travel about 5 minutes off campus (this was, of course, also for safety).

I think that partially defines the school’s relationship with Durham – on some level, we always connected with parts of the city, but in structured and defined ways that maintained the distinction between town and gown.  In contrast, UNC flows seamlessly into downtown Chapel Hill, its state school persona creating much less tension than private school stereotypes about Duke trust fund babies.  Not only that, but residents are mainly middle and upper class professionals, whereas Durham presents a greater disparity of privilege.

One problem is that there are legitimate concerns about crime in a few pockets of the “city”, making it difficult to create complete comfort.  Just last week, a few more Dukies were robbed at gunpoint, and it was not a completely isolated incident.  On the bright side, some of those structured ways to connect with Durham have always included a deep commitment to community service and positive relationship-builders.  In the past few years, this feeling has been enhanced with a robust and cohesive Duke Engage initiative.

Now that I’m traveling through the Triangle area with a car, I’m getting to see how all the pieces of the map fit together.  It’s nice that my “grown-up” student life feels in sync with the community at large, and it’s fun to piece together old memories as we create new ones.  Exploring both old standbys and updated venues, we’re getting to know the area from a new perspective.

I’ll be curious to see how much has changed when we stop by Shooters tonight – a truly sketchy dance club known for its mechanical bull ride and dance cages.  I have a feeling that Shooters will always stay true to its roots, especially judging by their Facebook page.  But, even this guide for Duke freshman notes that you’ll grow to, “love the place, in a strange way”.   Agreed – Viva el toro!  Pictures to follow!