Fall of 1994 was an uneasy time for the residents of Epworth/SHARE. Duke University was itself undergoing a period of intense self-examination; changes were being made in all areas, including a complete overhaul of the university's vision of residential life. Proposals included the elimination of selective housing, the placing of all first-year students on East Campus, and even the establishment of residential colleges at Duke.

As a selective living group on East Campus, what was to be the future of Epworth/SHARE? What would be the place of SHARE in Duke's vision?

To investigate possibilities for the future, SHARE residents cast their gaze into the past. SHARE was founded in 1970 as an explicitly "experimental'' living group; its purpose, to explore the new possibilities of co-education housing, and to create an integrated living-learning environment.

Over time, the meaningfulness of these experiments declined. SHARE persisted as an alternative to conventional Duke residential life; it has provided, and continues to provide, an environment where individuals are free to experiment with their own modes of living and learning, with the knowledge that their uniqueness will be cherished rather than scorned by other members of the community. However, a sense of group purpose faded. Although SHARE was a beloved home to those who lived there, its influence and meaning in the greater Duke community was all too little.

Perhaps, however, the coming changes in residential life could include a new purpose for SHARE--a new experiment which could have lasting meaning within the Duke community. Soon it became apparent that SHARE should formalize a long-standing tradition of accepting first-year members, thus bringing new life to an idea absent from Duke's residential life for over a decade, and that the university had never been able to make effective. SHARE should become a four-year cross-sectional living group.

Excitement over the idea increased quickly. Many members had abhorred their all-first-year dorm experience. Most agreed that Duke's vision for first-year residential life was fundamentally flawed: what was needed was not more contact among first-year students, but increased interaction between the first-year and upperclass students of Duke. The appropriate path was now to present to the administration a plan for the new cross-sectional SHARE, justifying the need for this experiment by describing potential benefits to the Duke community.

Thus the Proposal was born. Principal author Jason I. Fagg and editor-reviser Robert R. Schneck, along with virtually all the members of Epworth/SHARE, worked night and day to create a presentable document before the final residential life decisions were made. Finally, one grey afternoon in early December, a finished proposal was delivered to the office of President Nannerl Keohane.

Fingers were crossed, but now all that could be done was to wait. Finally the residential life decision was announced. East Campus would indeed become the home of all first-year students; however, Epworth/SHARE would remain on East for at least two years as an experimental four-year cross-sectional living group.

Preparations continue for SHARE. The first batch of frosh students are scheduled for fall of 1995, but much needs to be done before that can become a reality. One thing, however, is sure: SHARE, as an experimental living group, continues to have a purpose in the residential vision of Duke University; and the energy of SHARE members shall ensure that this purpose that shall be renewed again and again in the future.

Robert Schneck, Spring 1995