Fierce Creatures Abound Larry Flynt and Lemurs spice up the: big screen in an effort to prove that- .• THE CHRONICLE audiences v . R&R. THURSDAY. JANUARY 23. 199 ONE COPY FREE DUKE UNIVERSITY DURHAM. NORTH CAROLINA CIRCULATION: 15.000 VOL 92, NO. 76 Trinity College gains new deans Positions filled to complete reorganization of college By MISTY ALLEN the faculty, will assume the Chafe said, adding that this William Chafe, dean of the title of dean of Trinity Col­ shift was designed to combat faculty of Arts and Sciences, lege—a move inherent to a the notion that the University announced Wednesday that larger modification of the Arts cannot facilitate leading re­ Robert Thompson and James and Sciences administration. search and quality education Siedow will be taking over two Although Chafe will bear an simultaneously. new deanships that were cre­ additional title, he will not "The issues of undergradu­ ated in response to Richard take on all of White's previous ate education and faculty de­ White's announcement that he responsibilities. Instead, velopment really are inextrica­ would be stepping down as White's former duties will be ble," Chafe said in a dean of Trinity College in May shared among Chafe, Thomp­ statement. "I anticipate the 1997. son and Siedow. deans will work as a team, co­ Thompson, a professor in "Our goal is to offer a pro­ ordinating and consulting on a the Department of Psychologi­ gressive undergraduate pro­ regular basis. My own involve­ cal and Behavioral Science gram that combines innova­ ment in representational roles who has long been affiliated tion in the classroom with such as fund raising and as a with undergraduate education, rigor and a respect for tradi­ spokesman for Arts and Sci­ will become the dean of under­ tion," Chafe said, "and to de­ ences will increase somewhat, graduate affairs while Siedow, velop a robust faculty that will but I also expect that the two professor of botany and imme­ continue Duke's trajectory as a deans will be involved in fund PAULA POSAS/THE CHRONICLE diate-past chair ofthe Academ­ leader in research as well as raising as well." ic Council, will assume the role excellent teaching.'' Thompson, who came to the Anything you can do... of dean of faculty development One of the expected results University in 1985 and who Aug. 1. of this revamping is the inte­ currently heads the Faculty Engineering junior Jonathan Wray sketches his own mas­ In addition, Chafe, who will gration of faculty development Associates Program, will try to terpiece at the Duke University Museum of Art Wednesday. maintain his status as dean of and undergraduate education, See DEANS on page 5 • Professor presents index proposal to DSG By JENNIFER UU often offered criticism or doubts measurements. current system. "I am terrified Members of Duke Student about the proposal. Some stu­ Trinity senior Lauren Eisner, that [under the proposed sys­ Students Government had an opportuni­ dents voiced concerns regarding DSG director of student ser­ tem] I am going to be in compe­ ty to learn more about the new which groups of students will be vices, questioned the possible tition with every other student speak out achievement index proposal of affected, how much students' competition that the index sys­ in the class," she said. the Arts and Sciences Council GPAs will be changed and tem could generate between Other students voiced simi­ and voice questions and con­ whether students will select students, adding that she feels lar concerns that cooperation on index cerns about the proposal at the courses based on the index's competition is not severe in the See DSG on page 5 tV general body meeting Wednes­ day night. ;A KOZLOV le proponents ofthe In a presentation, Val John­ sment index grad- son, associate professor of sta­ Meeting focuses on tax issues • ing system argue : that: tistics, explained the statistical their plan will combat:: basis and methods of imple­ By ROD FEUER public services, such as church­ the University's involvement grade inflation, several mentation of the proposed University and Durham offi­ es and cultural organizations, with Durham. He also identi­ :student, leaders said, that. index using charts and graphics cials met Wednesday to discuss also receive the state-mandated fied numerous areas in which there are a number of • to help illustrate his points. a broad range of issues concern­ exemption. the University can contribute to drawbacks to the proposal Under the new proposal, stu­ ing the University's involve­ Other city representatives the community, including af­ that outweigh its benefits; dents' GPA and class rank will ment in the community, includ­ present at the meeting were fordable housing, economic de­ Trinity senior Takcus be generated through statisti­ ing a proposal by the city of Durham Mayor Sylvia Kerck­ velopment and health care. Nesbit, president of Duke cal analysis of their perfor­ Durham that the University hoff and City Council member Despite the lack of progress Student Government, said mance relative to that of then- provide a "voluntary payment" Frank Hyman. Two additional of the tax issue, city and Uni­ that University officials peers. Johnson said this new to account for its exemption administrators represented the versity officials agreed that the are trying to solve grade system will help to combat the from property taxes. University: Paul Vick, director meeting was beneficial for both inflation from an adminis­ problem of students signing up Floyd McKissick, Din-ham of government relations, and trative .level,, rather than for courses in order to receive City Council member, said that John Burness, senior vice presi­ "We had a very positive and approaching the problem an "easy A." "For the health of the proposal has not received dent for public affairs. constructive meeting dealing from the classrooms them­ the University, this is not good," the official support of the City The meeting was scheduled with a full range of issues," selves. "The system itself he said. "We do not want stu­ Council, but it has been "warm­ a month ago, Burness said, McKissick said. is not the problem," he dents taking courses according ly accepted" by some of its mem­ with the intention of informing After completing their busi­ said. "So by changing the to their expected grade." bers and by state legislators. city officials about the various ness, both parties agreed that system, youfi; will : not; Johnson also emphasized The University, however, is still channels through which the prior to any further discussion, change the way professors that the achievement index sys­ holding fast to its belief that the University has involved itself each should re-evaluate its fig­ grade their classes, which tem would be more fair than justifications for the voluntary with the local community. He ures relating to various fiscal is the inherent issue." - contribution are not persuasive. the current system. "The real added that much of the discus­ matters. This step is crucial, Other DSG leaders problem at Duke is not grade "[The proposal] came up—we sion focused on issues that he Burness said, because future agreed with Nesbit. "The inflation," he said. "The real didn't embrace it," said Tallman had addressed during his pre­ discussions need to be about administration is trying to problem is equity. What we Trask, executive vice president sentation in December to the "apples and apples, not apples fix the grades after profes­ have right now is simply unfair ofthe University. Because of its Board of Trustees. and oranges." sors give them, instead of to a large number of students." status as an educational institu­ During his report to the A second meeting between dealing directly with the Following his presentation, tion, the University is exempt trustees, Burness announced a the University and city officials ^professors and how they Johnson fielded questions from from payment of property taxes. strategic plan designed to im­ has been set for the end of Feb­ See INDEX on page 4 > members ofthe legislature who Other institutions providing prove eommimity awareness of ruary. THE CHRONICLE THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1997 World and National Newsfile Parliament resolves to remove Yeltsin From wire reports Guerrillas fire: Tensions re­ mained high at the Japanese am­ By MICHAEL SPECTER on the resolution before it is adopted. from office. "We can no longer sit and bassador's residence in Peru N.Y. Times News Service But after seven troubling months in watch as our government is led by no Wednesday after guerrillas holding MOSCOW — In a display of Russia's which the president has been far too one." 73 hostages inside fired shots into mounting restiveness about 'President sick to work, the measure reflects the While opposition figures have often the air during the night, presum­ Boris Yeltsin's seemingly permanent growing sense that an economically called on Yeltsin to be removed, this ably to scare off policemen who were conducting maneuvers outside the absence from the Kremlin, the Parlia­ depressed Russia has a leader who was the first time the issue had been compound. ment voted overwhelmingly Wednes­ may never again be fully capable of put to a vote. day evening for a resolution to remove carrying out the strenuous duties of In the middle of the extraordinary Yeltsin from his post because of his his job. debate on Yeltsin's health, which last­ Support affirmed: In a joint poor health. "Either we agree to Russia's collapse ed throughout the day, the president's show of political force, Hillary Rod­ The 229-63 vote in the Communist- as a nation or we try to do something press service announced with great ham Clinton, Vice President Al Gore dominated lower house has no legal about it," said Viktor Hyukhin, the fanfare that he had defied his doctors and his wife, Tipper, each affirmed force, and it was instantly swamped in a Communist legislator who initiated and traveled to the Kremlin to meet support for abortion rights at a lun­ the resolution calling for Yeltsin, who cheon in Washington Wednesday confusing blizzard of parliamentary ma­ with Prime Minister Viktor Cher­ marking the 24th anniversary of neuvers which will require a second vote has double pneumonia, to be removed nomyrdin.