Duke University Top Questions

Everyone seems to leave their doors open for others. Seems very relaxed as far as living. A weird phenomenon has occured at Duke. Though no proven correlation, this social scene made up by intelligent people seems to really lack attractive people. The result is that people who were not really considered that "hot" in high school, have a new sense of being desired -along with a new sense of feeling better than everyone else. Very pitiful socially. Anyone who wants to hang out with normal people to party take a bus over to UNC Chapel Hill. Either join a frat or come with your friends. Otherwise YOU WILL FEEL OSTRISIZED.

Campus is always abuzz with some upcoming event, whether it's the performance of Maceo Parker and Booker T, Third Eye Blind, The Roots, or an address from Tucker Max. There are lots of parties every weekend, mostly hosted by Frats, but mostly pretty open.

The Greek life is pretty big on campus. I normally wouldn't have joined a fraternity or sorority, but I managed to find one with unique interests. I think since I was able to find at least one group to feel comfortable around and relate to at Duke, there's got to be people there for everyone. The fun thing is that all through high school I was awake alone in my room at 3 am. Now, when I'm up at 3, I just walk down the hall and greet the half that's still awake like me.

Freshman year and upper-class years are entirely different social schemas. Freshman year, students go to large Fraternity parties, hang out with friends in the common room, go to the dining halls together, etc. Sophomore and Junior year, large fraternity parties are less attended, and most partying occurs with close friends in their respective rooms. People always attend the athletic events, except football. However everyone tailgates before the show then goes to nap before going out at night. The guest speakers are often well attended, depending on how well published he or she is. The theater organization, Hoof 'n Horn, sells out a lot of their shows; the Rocky Horror Show was phenomenally done. Everyone perceives an overriding hook-up culture at Duke, but I have found a majority are in a relationship at some point in the year. But hook-ups do happen often. I have met my closest friends through every medium, a fraternity, debate, dorm rooms, parties, etc. You can find friends everywhere. At 2 am on a Tuesday, I could be hanging out with friends watching a movie, at a party, or studying for a test. Fraternities have a large part in the social scene, but do not control it. Other student groups throw great parties as well, and students party with friends in their rooms often. Last weekend I was at Duke, I went to a friends apartment to party with my fraternity one night, and went to a debate party the night before. On Saturday nights people are always just chillin with friends, usually the Duke University Union is playing a movie in the campus movie theater, Chapel Hill is close, Durham has some nice arts events as well. Off campus is limited, as we can do almost everything at Duke. We party off campus, go to nicer dinners, etc. but only luxury type things are done off campus. The basic needs are fulfilled on campus.

The greek scene is obviously huge. Lots of parties, lots of clubs, always something going on. I devote all my time to my extracurriculars. I love singing, so I joined an a cappella group. That's a lot of fun, and we are always socializing together. Athletic events are obviously huge, but so much fun. People don't really date here though. It's definitely more of a hook up culture. I met my best friends through my dorm (dorms get really close) and then through Campus Crusade and my a cappella. The stereotype is that if you're at Duke, you have to drink. I haven't had alcohol all year and I've had the time of my life. There are a ton of broadway shows, top level music and dance performances, international speakers, not to mention free movies every thursday, friday and saturday, free dvd rentals from the library, bowling alleys and laser tag close by, student performances galore and, of course, the sports games.

The closest school nearby is North Carolina Central University, but most students at my school don't interact with students there because it is a Historically Black College. I interact with the guys there because the guys at my school are "wack" and a lot of guys from NCCU come to the "black" parties on Duke’s campus. There is some interaction with students from UNC but not that much interaction because there is a little animosity between the students at both schools. Athletics are a BIG BIG part of campus - that is the only thing that brings students of all types together. Students try to play a role in administrative decisions but the administrators only pretend like they are listening to us (in reality they do what they want to do.) People here party starting on Thursday until Saturday. The white kids on campus mainly get drunk and then hook-up with random people. The black kids usually party at one of the venues on campus that is rented out by a frat or sorority, and there are cops present throughout the entire party (10pm-2am). On a typical friday night when there is a party the white kids get drunk by 10pm. The black kids pre-party before going to the actual party and nobody goes to the party until midnight because that is when the party gets crunk. My school is dependent on Greek life to have fun. There is no dating scene at Duke. Kids just "hook-up" with each other for the weekend. I don't know everyone on campus and I don't want to know everyone on campus. I have met most of my friends from my dorm freshman year.

Athletics are definitely the most popular events on campus; however, almost all events are free and heavily attended. There is some bitter rivalry between our neighboring schools of UNC and NC State, thus there is not much interaction. However, a Robertson Bus runs daily between UNC and Duke, which promotes more cross-town bonding. My friends and I often hang out on Franklin St. in Chapel Hill! As for daily activities, there is always stuff going on. The best place to find out about events for the week is on the Bryan Center walkway, which will soon be remodeled into a bigger plaza with food vendors (!). You walk down the BC walkway and get wrapped up in this jumble of stimulating eye-candy. The LGBT center is giving out free T-shirts, the cast of West-side Story is dancing to boom-box music, the Duke Conservation Union is harassing you to sign their petition, and the Sabrusora Dance group is yelling at you to come to their show on Wednesday night! After all these distractions... you are usually late for class. Alcohol is big. If you don't want to drink and party, get creative! I often don't drink on the weekends, and its ok too. You can go to a party sober and no one makes fun of you, you can go to a play, you can frolic in Duke Gardens; however, the most popular thing to do is to get drunk at a frat party and then go clubbing on Ninth Street. Frats are big, and sororities are too; however, sororities don't live together, so they don't have an overwhelming presence. You can always meet new people, but there is more hooking-up than actual dating. overall - the saying "work hard, play hard" is definately true at Duke. Anyone can easily get drunk any night of the week, but that is true at most colleges. What is different at Duke is the intensity of the partying. People study all day and party all night; drinking, clubbing, hooking up, etc..

A lot of stuff to do at Duke, but you have to take the initiative to do it. Most students complain there's nothing to do, but there are tons of shows, lectures, movies, recitals, etc. etc. to attend. And Durham offers tons of awesome activities to enjoy, like bars, restaurants, local bands, art exhibits, etc. Durham is a real happening place, but Dukies don't see it because they isolate themselves in the Gothic Wonderland (AKA Duke). Greek Life dominates the social scene, though its power is declining. And there's a lot of resistance to it because students just don't know what they're going to do without frat parties. It's not too difficult to imagine other forms of social organization. As frats lose power, other outlets will be created organically. Humans are social by nature, and something will pop up.

Only freshmen in freshmen dorms leave their doors open. Maybe, in fraternity sections, some brothers may leave their doors unlocked or open, but thats not necessarily typical.

Fraternities are good, A select group of people go out all the time.