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Student life at Duke in 2034? At first, I thought it rather difficult even to begin to imagine. But, upon reflection, I realized it should not be that great of a challenge; I have been at Duke and have watched this place change for more than thirty-five years. So, as I reflect on the past, I will try to anticipate the future:
- Duke will have won multiple bowl games and national championships. As a result, students will continue to love Duke football and basketball, especially since both David Cutcliffe and Mike Krzyzewski will still be coaching here. In addition, Duke will be the first national champion in a new coed varsity sport: Quidditch!
- Students will have to camp out to secure a space in the parking lots for traditional tailgating before football games. Tailgating as we've come to know it will have died.
- With a welcome shift in the economy, Duke students will finally be living in the New Campus; in fact, it will be referred to as the "Not So New Campus."
- Student organizational meetings will take place online. There will no longer be any need to reserve classroom space.
- Similarly, with Duke going global, many more classes will be online.
- Wilson Recreation Center will have doubled in size and will still be overcrowded! A new rec center will exist on the New Campus, as will outdoor playing fields. The number of club sports teams will have doubled.
- The Chronicle will still be published on a daily basis, but will be available only online.
- There will be plenty of parking because students will no longer bring their cars to campus. Buses will not be needed, either. Instead, with the total greening of Duke, everyone will ride a bike.
- Shooters II, a notorious off-campus nightclub, will no longer exist, as it will have lost its liquor license. In its place will be a giant smoothie bar, Quenchers II, with meditation, massage, acupuncture, and yoga.
- Perkins and Lilly libraries will be "party locations" for semiformals and campus-wide social events. With all research being done online, books will no longer be needed.
- GPS systems will allow all members of the Duke community to know where every other member of the Duke community is at any time. The Duke Community Standard will include a new violation: Disabling your personal GPS so that you can run and hide will not be permitted.
- Duke will be completely smoke-free.
- The entire Bryan Center will be devoted to the Refectory, currently the "green" dining option at the divinity and law schools. With students more focused on health and nutrition, the Refectory will be the only eatery on campus, superseding all fast-food options—except for Pauly's and Joseph's hot dogs.
- The campus will be as vibrant and beautiful as ever, with students studying on the quads and the Bryan Center plaza, always picking up their trash.
- Students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be trekking to Durham, primarily to take advantage of all the cool events and activities taking place downtown.
- Dean Gerald Wilson will still be the prelaw adviser, preparing to celebrate his 100th birthday.
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