During the department's external review (1999-2000), several graduate students wrote a document that detailed their concerns with the department. In subsequent meetings with the external review committee, it was suggested that students form a graduate student oraganization. While work began that year to form this organization, it stalled until fall of 2000. Students met for several months to discuss the consitution and by-laws, with these documents ratified in spring of 2001. The first slate of officers were Michael Stenner as President, Rob Saunders as Vice-President, and Brian Bunton as Secretary-Treasurer.
The purpose of this organization shall be to represent the interests and concerns of the graduate students of the Duke University Department of Physics; to facilitate the integration of new graduate students; and to promote social and academic interaction among fellow gradaute students.