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Food & Bikes

New approaches to enhancing campus climate, improving faculty-student interactions

A new bike sharing program may increase bike traffic on campus

The new school year is starting with new initiatives in dining and biking on campus. The two may not seem related, but in fact they're the first of what promises to be a series of campus culture proposals.

The grand opening for Duke Bikes, a pilot bike-loan program organized by Duke students and other university departments, will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, on the West Campus Plaza stage.

The program offers undergraduate, graduate and professional students no-cost options for exercise and campus commuting. This collaborative program provides an example of efforts now underway at Duke to enhance the student experience and promote sustainability.

"An important shared value at Duke is our commitment to civic engagement," said Provost Peter Lange, who will attend the grand opening. "The bike program is a wonderful contributor to this value, with its contribution to the environment, to good health and to just plain fun."

Free T-shirts will be distributed, and there will be bikes on display and light refreshments.

Duke Bikes works much like checking out a library book. All a student needs is a DukeCard and pedal power. The fleet includes 1-speed and 3-speed Trek Cruisers, equipped with locks, lights, flashers and baskets. Helmets are available, too.

In addition to bikes, Duke also has launched the new outpost adventure gear station under the West Campus Plaza. The outpost provides equipment such as tents and backpacks for loan, and is also where students will go to borrow and return bikes.

For more information about the program, click here.

On the dining front, the university has announced expanded dining hours at the Upstairs@The Commons (formerly known as the Faculty Commons) and constructed a new social patio at the Armadillo Grill in the Bryan Center.

Both dining initiatives are meant to create more social space for student life and enhance student-faculty interaction.

"Part of [the new Grill patio] is a response to the Campus Culture Initiative report to do more on campus to build community," Jim Wulforst, director of dining services, told The Chronicle. "The space has been there for years, but it just was not a comfortable place to sit. I think it's all part of a bigger plan to keep students engaged in on-campus venues and programming."

Several special upcoming events will kick off the new patio.

  • Friday, Aug. 31, 4 -- 8 p.m, live music, specialty beer, 52-inch TV, and free wings, chips & queso and giveaways.
  • Monday Night Football -- Free wings until the first team scores
  • Wing It Wednesday -- 30 cent wings, 4 p.m. to midnight
  • Friday Social -- Music, microbrew and free chips and salsa, 4 to 8 p.m.

Sunday dinners have already started in The Commons in West Union Bldg. (Click here for the menu.)

Beginning Sept. 1, the venue will offer brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition, the Commons will be expanding its hours Sunday through Thursday to offer a social hour at 4:30 p.m. (wine and beer available) with a la carte dinner service from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.