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Seth Weitberg
Member of DUI (Duke University Improv), actor in Hoof 'n' Horn, stand-up comedian at Charlie Goodnight's, president of Wayne Manor, gourmet cook, singer, guitarist, former Pitchfork, playwright, and poet
Describe yourself in three words:
Outgoing, loving, analytical
Describe Duke in three words:
Young, evolving, optimistic
Why Duke?
When I visited, I liked the character of the people here. In every sort of arena, I felt like people at Duke were very competitive, very motivated. So they were very into what they were doing academically but it didn't define them; it wasn't the entirety of their pursuits.
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photo by Chris Hildreth |
What one thing would you change about Duke?
I think I would change the implicit social caste system
that is here. It is not intentioned but there is this vision
that is broken down by selective house and fraternity, and
although there is some crossover there is this structure that's
in place.
Who is your favorite person?
My mom.
What do you value?
Passion and truth, and I mean passion in the sense
of people being passionate about an interest.
In his words:
It took me a long time to figure out what I love doing.
I thought I would stay in academia because I love to help people
understand things and open people's minds, too, and then at some
point I realized that the love I had for comedy was something
I should pursue. I thought, I could go on and teach for the next
sixty years but there's a shelf life with comedy and why not
try. If I fall on my face, whatever. There's something about
comedy that accomplishes the same things that teaching does.
I mean, the best comics take truth and put it in a perspective
that forces you to examine it, and it allows you this unique
opportunity to explore politics and art and make intense criticism
and analysis. And it's a bit more palatable that way. I really
enjoy the fact that with DUI I can go into a dorm or Page Auditorium
and for an hour or two alleviate some of the stress of being
in this high-pressure Duke environment. I started doing it in
high school and then I came to Duke and saw the orientation show
and found myself dying to be on stage doing what DUI was doing.
So I auditioned and was lucky enough to get in. It's a cheap
endeavor and all the money we raise we give to charity. We give
it to the Scott Carter Foundation for pediatric cancer research.
I think it's important to make whatever you're doing as enjoyable
as possible. If you don't force yourself to be creative with
work, you find yourself just running in circles. Creativity for
me is a necessity. I just get bored too easily |
A joint project of University Photography and Duke Magazine,
Face Value is an evolving gallery of portraits displayed in
Perkins Library and represented in the magazine.
By capturing these individuals in images and words, the project
celebrates some of the staff, faculty, and students whose contributions
define a diverse community. Portrait by Chris Hildreth |
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