International Relations (Davidson)

From the unofficial Duke TIP Wiki

International Relations is a class which teaches politics and world issues to a group of middle and upper schoolers. But the trouble is is that the students are incredibly bright, so discussions are had that are almost scary. Talk about world domination, eugenics as a moral ground, and left-right debates has earned this class a special place at TIP. It's kinda unnerving to see these kids talk; you'd think that IR is breeding Napoleons. Which they are. The class is usually lead by 4 or 5 students, with the rest sort of looking vaguely at a map or something.

The trouble is that IR is very and almost terrifyingly brilliant; and they know it too. That smugness has lead to a few inter-class feuds, most notably between IR and State Your Case. The rivalry between IR and SYC was ended after the "incident" between Charisma and the IR TA Lee. Grace Thomas TIPSter Index/S-Z saw the two kissing in Belk after lunch. The two deny the "incident" ever happened, but it managed to bring the two classes closer together.

[edit] International Relations Term II

International Relations Term II was taught by Carianne, the teacher, and Lee, the TA

[edit] Debates

Several of the IR TIPsters had both incredible debating skills and a strange sense of humor. This led to the infamous "Rasputin/Chewbacca Incident", unlikely ever to be forgotten by those present that day. (The student who dredged up the Chewbacca defense also created the tractor controversy.)

The class was often engaged in heated left-right debates on any topic imaginable. The fact that there were only 2 true Republicans in a class of 15 Democrats added interest, though one of the 2, Ari, the same who caused the tractor controversy, was more than capable of holding his own. Amelia and Christine generally led the liberal front, while Ari spearheaded the conservative counterattack, with Sam arguing either side for the sake of arguing or simply making his classmates glad they didn't share his worldview. This is very important to note, because on the off chance you ever do start slipping down the downward spiral that is Samiamism, here is what you must do-

• Immediately Kill Yourself. Your Life Is No Longer Worth Living.
• No, we're not kidding. Talk to Sam for ten minutes and you'll start wondering how he's still living with himself. The current theory is that the real Sam Buckley is locked deeply inside himself and it is currently a demon controlling his cynicism and odd facial expressions.

IR had a debate with SYC once. It ended very badly (for SYC that is). IR beat them 2-0, though IR had drawn both of the difficult topics to argue. After the debate one nerdy loser girl in SYC started to cry because they were beaten so badly.

When this defeat took place, the IR class rightfully boasted that they had out debated a debate class. This caused a commotion all over campus as all of the young TIPsters were turned against the IR class. Yet, just because IR students have big egos, their defeat made them look worse than they had originally.

Immunology and Architure are notable as well (in the summer of 2006 in term 2, the architecture kids came to IR and showed the class a presentation of their models; the IR kids retaliated bypresenting a display of their knowledge. It numbed architecture into submission, and left bad feeelings between the two groups. Thus, a feud was born).

However, IR was not always fighting with other classes. Once to demonstrate a revolution in their class they led the Ice Cream revolution. They convinced over 60 people to come to Ben and Jerry's before dinner to get Ice Cream.

The showing of the famous "Dr. Strangelove" also led to a continuing reference of mineshafts throughout the rest of the term.

• Note: DT&I just thought IR was full of themselves, which they all admit they are. Immunology's real feud was with Introduction To Lab Sciences, otherwise known as Mini-DT&I.
• Note: It's very likely the uh, "incident" or, RATionship did happen between the two TA's seeing as how they were very nonTiproppriately making out on the balcony level at the last dance.

which is so unfair because you know, the students got split up when they did that. hell, the students got split up even when they just stood there and danced. damn chaperones... jk, we love you all!. kind of.

[edit] IR Quotes

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Rasputin. No, I'm sorry, that was Chewbacca. THIS is Rasputin."

"I couldn't survive a hundred years with my IR class in a mineshaft."

"I wasn't aware that Rasputin was that socially active."

"Would marrying tractors be acceptable?"

"We declare a nuclear alliance between the states of Great Britain, Iran, and North Korea."

"Axis of Not Nice: If you're not with us, you're a terrorist."