Ryan McCartney, former editor-in-chief and editorial page editor for The Chronicle

Simply put, Kristin is the kind of columnist you absolutely love to edit. She throws herself into every column and has proven herself to be the kind of gadfly that isn't afraid to poke at the administration—to point out the flaws (and virtues) of Duke with regularity and readability. This proved particularly crucial during the Duke lacrosse case, during which Kristin emerged as one of our leading—and certainly best-read—columnists. Indeed, a readership base seemed to establish itself around her column. When she had to take a week off to study for a midterm, I remember getting a number of e-mail complaints that readers weren't getting their weekly dose of Kristin. As editor of the paper at the time, that's exactly what you want to see in your inbox.

Although Kristin's work on the lacrosse case made her a name on campus (as well as on the Duke lacrosse blogging scene), her scope is by no means so narrow. This past November, Butler won Duke's prestigious Melcher Family Award for Excellence in Journalism for her March 6, 2007 column "Soaking The Poor: With All Deliberate Speed." The article recognized by the Melcher selection committee looked at how patients who lacked health insurance were typically billed at higher rates at the Duke University Health System. It was groundbreaking stuff.

As a final point, I have also always appreciated Kristin's appreciation of journalism ethics — again, her commitment to "getting it right," so to speak. Every fact and every source in her columns is backed up. When I fact check her writing, Kristin invariably sends along lengthy written notes from her interviews and print resources.

John in Carolina, a popular blogger covering Duke University, politics and other topics

Outstanding journalists can have different writing styles; broad or specialized interests. But all must possess the moral courage to take the unpopular stand; to speak truth to anyone – those in power and what is often much more difficult, to those who are their peers.

Kristin has that kind of courage as seen, for example, in her Feb. 28, 2008 column, "A House Divided." She took Duke’s leadership to task for its disgraceful response to then DA and now disbarred Mike Nifong’s and other’s attempt to frame three obviously innocent Duke students for gang rape.

At the same time she was also critical of fellow Chronicle colleagues who’ve gone along with the university’s leadership. Here’s how Kristin began that column: “Thirteen months ago, The Chronicle's editorial board had this to say about the Brodhead administration's performance during the lacrosse case: ‘People should not forget to recognize the adequacy of a 'good' performance in the turbulent and charged atmosphere of the last year. And in the end, history may very well judge the University's response as sensible and well executed given the constraints and competing interests at stake.’
It's hard to imagine anyone offering that assessment today. […]

As the academic year was ending, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists announced Kristin was this year’s first-place winner of its student-scholarship contest and would be its guest at NSNC’s annual conference in June. It was a fitting tribute to the work of a diligent, caring and courageous young journalist.

Ken Rogerson, director of undergraduate studies at Duke University’s Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy

Each year the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy gives a writing award, the Melcher Family Award for Excellence in Journalism. Kristin received this award in 2007 for one of her columns, the first columnist to be so honored. The article, entitled "Soaking the Poor," described the gap between the billed costs for uninsured individuals and those who can afford medical coverage within the Duke University Medical System. Within in the tight space constraints of a column, she educates her readers and presses them to consider the ethical implications of charging poor patients more for their healthcare.

From the award's selection committee: "With this article she takes on a difficult and complex topic with excellent research, a strong argument, and persuasive prose." One judge commented, "She has the DNA to be a great columnist." What made this piece different from other submissions was that it went much further than simply commenting on state of campus life (the theme of most of the other regular columnists). Kristin proved to be as strong a reporter as she was a writer. How refreshing.

Source | The Chronicle
It's no secret that the Durham Police Department has gotten a lot of criticism for their Gestapo-style alcohol raids and their disgraceful conduct during the lacrosse case. But the tragic murder of Duke graduate student Abhijit Mahato-coupled with last week's string of violent robberies (many of them near campus and some involving Duke community members)-underscores an even more disturbing reality: DPD officers are pretty bad crime fighters.

Source | The Chronicle
When the rest of the country pauses to honor America's military personnel (both living and dead) next Monday, Duke University won't join in.

Source | The Chronicle
President Richard Brodhead, why are you and your administrators actively supporting and defending racial prejudice in our midst? Why are your most senior employees refusing to remove racially restrictive covenants from deeds in the Duke faculty homesites?

Source | The Chronicle
If you are uninsured and forced to seek medical care at the Duke University Health System, beware.