Save the Epworth Community Petition

We, the undersigned students, faculty, alumni, employees, former faculty, former employees, and friends of Duke University, as well the members of the Duke University family, recognizing that,
Whereas there is a continuing and growing need to promote community at Duke University; and that
Whereas, the dorm Epworth, as a small-community space, is an excellent venue for such promotion; and that
Whereas the University has a need for more efficient monetary outlays, and that
Whereas the costs of converting Epworth into a non-dormitory space do not fulfill such efficiency requirements; and that
Whereas there is an ever pressing threat of persons not associated with the University intruding upon East Campus for questionable enterprises; and that
Whereas Epworth, when inhabited as a dorm helps to provide a bastion against such intrusions coming from Durham; and that
Whereas Epworth is the most historic dorm on the University campus, with a proud tradition of student habitation,
Hereby firmly resolve the following:
That the University should preserve Epworth in the role of a dorm; and
That it should perform such preservation without having Epworth serve as office space for any department or organization, whether affiliated or not affiliated with the University; and,
That the University should expend such sums of money as are needed to perform such structural repairs to Epworth as are needed to allow it to continue in the role of a dorm, since such expenditure is in all likelihood smaller in quantity than the expenditure requisite to convert Epworth into a functional office space; and,
That the University should take such steps as are needed to implement this resolution and the foregoing resolutions, keeping always in mind the place of Epworth in the history of Duke University and its deserving to be honored for that place.