Duke University - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

As much as the students love Duke, there are some shortcomings that simply cannot be overlooked. The atmosphere, or lack thereof, is at the top of the list. At the beginning of freshman year, Student Life Officials herd all the first-year students into the commons room and do their best to scare everyone out of ever wandering around Durham alone. While East Campus is not situated near the nicest part of Durham, there are a few nice, quiet little residential areas around East Campus, as well as some adequate shopping centers and restaurants within driving distance. Ninth Street, just off of East Campus (within short walking distance), is where most students choose to go for off-campus restaurants and some shops. West Campus is much more isolated from Durham, so students won’t really sense the Durham atmosphere, unless they go looking for it.

If you’re looking for a college town, Chapel Hill lives up to that description quite nicely and is no more than 20 minutes away. Duke and UNC provide a free bus back and forth every day, which many students take advantage of. The bus usually runs until about 11 p.m., but stops at 5 p.m. on Saturdays. For the most part, though, Duke’s campus is quite self-contained, and many students never feel the need to leave. Other than Ninth Street, Durham has little in the way of atmosphere to offer students.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Most Duke students, me included,... Most Duke students, me included, don’t tend to spend a lot of time in Durham. There’s a lot to do on campus, so I don’t know too much about what Durham is really like. I don’t recommend walking around off campus after dark because Durham has a fairly high crime rate, but there are things to do within driving distance. Off campus, there are lots of restaurants, the Streets at Southpoint Mall, and the Durham Bulls. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Durham is one big bore. However,... Durham is one big bore. However, Chapel Hill is nice because it’s a town built around a large university. Duke makes its own social scene since Durham doesn’t provide one. There are at least six other colleges in the area. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Durham is an old tobacco town that... Durham is an old tobacco town that had its day in the sun a while ago. Luckily, the area as a whole (the Triangle) has grown immensely, and areas around Durham (Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and the in-betweens) are getting some nice and exciting attractions. My favorite spot is actually Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Sadly, Durham and Duke don’t have... Sadly, Durham and Duke don’t have the best ties. Some of this might be due to the self-contained nature of the Duke campus. There is, however, Ninth Street, which offers many restaurants and shops. Durham has two malls in the vicinity; the challenge is transportation. Chapel Hill is also in the area, and it happens to be a much better college town than Durham (we can thank UNC for that, and only that). 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I really don’t get out much in... I really don’t get out much in Durham. However, Chapel Hill, home of UNC, is a vibrant, exciting city. There are lots of restaurants in both cities—always something for everyone. I would stay away from downtown Durham at night and Fayetteville Road in general. Stuff to visit would have to include the Duke Gardens, the Museum of Life and Science for the kids (or immature biologists), and historic Raleigh, about 40 minutes away. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts About Durham:
• Durham is not named for its sister city, Durham, England, but rather for Dr. Bartlett Durham, who donated the four acres of land to build a railroad station around which the city developed.
• Durham has several interesting sister cities: Toyama City, Japan; Kostroma, Russia; Arusha, Tanzania; and the afore mentioned Durham, England.
• Durham used to be known as the “Bull City,” but is now known as the “City of Medicine” and is part of the Research Triangle.
• The Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding cities) has one of the highest concentrations of PhDs in the world.
• North Carolina was the site of man’s first mechanical flight by the Wright Brothers. This event is commemorated on North Carolina’s license plates, which reads “First in Flight.”

Famous People from Durham:
Julian Abele – Architect of Duke Chapel
Ernie Barnes – World-renowned artist
Shirley Caesar – Gospel vocalist
John H. Franklin – Historian and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner
Neena Freelon – Jazz vocalist
Blind Boy Fuller – Piedmont Blues vocalist
Dr. Charles Johnson – President of the National Medical Association
Sam Jones – First African American drafted by NBA in the first round
Branford Marsalis – Grammy-winning saxophonist and film score composer
Coach John McClendon – Basketball strategist still emulated today
Floyd McKissick, Sr. – Civil rights leader and father of a Congressman
Clyde McPhatter – R&B vocalist for the Drifters
Rev. Douglas Moore – Pioneer of sit-ins in the Civil Rights Movement
Grady Tate – Renowned jazz drummer

Local Slang:
If you’re Southern, you’ll know it. If you’re not, don’t try it.

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