PHOTOS: GRAD STUDENT CAMPOUT 2009
UHauls were lined up, RV’s were rented, tents were pitched, grills were fired up and three levels of Duke’s Blue Zone parking lot were transformed. It was the annual graduate student campout this weekend and the grad student community was out in full force. Around 2,500 graduate and professional students left no doubt they are excited about hoops season.
The event kicked off Friday afternoon as the attendees set up, some very elaborately, in the parking lot. The overnight accommodations ranged from tents, to UHauls, to upscale RV’s, to air mattresses randomly placed in the parking lot, to those who chose not to sleep (or dance on top of, instead of sleep in, the RV’s). Students generally formed groups of 10-15 to split tickets won, some sharing UHauls and/or making group tee-shirts and/or pooling funds for food and beverage supplies.
The campout annually serves as the grad student community’s biggest social event. With perfect weather and a huge turnout, this year was no exception. During the day, campers tossed balls and frisbees around, watched football on outdoor plasma TV’s connected to satellites, studied, ate, hung out, played video games and performed community service. At night, you might be surprised to see how much fun you can have in a parking lot with a bunch of UHauls and RV’s.
Coach K joined our players on a visit Saturday night to thank the grad students and speak to the group. Our head coach broke the news that the grad students will be getting additional seats in Cameron as the blue padded seats have been torn out in the end zone next to the band. This was a request from the basketball office because the staff recognized the need for a more lively free throw backdrop for our opponents in the second half (which the grad students have always provided in the first half behind the opposite bucket). Coach K also announced our captains for the year, Jon and Lance, and the pair spoke to the campers. Coach K and our captains expressed serious excitement for the season and left no doubt the team is hunting a national championship while not looking back. Coach K also encouraged everyone to attend the new Countdown to Craziness event on October 16th. The Hall of Famer added that he hopes to introduce some other new traditions this year that will allow for new student seating opportunities in Cameron, encouraging an “edge” with the focus on winning.
The event wrapped up Sunday when the winners of the lottery were announced. As Jon mentioned to the group when speaking to everyone Saturday night, it’s an honor for our team to have students so invested in and passionate about playing the “Sixth Man” role in Cameron.
