Wayne Manor (Duke University)

Wayne Manor originated in 1981 as the Bunch of Guys (BOG) or BOGgers, an all-male independent living group in Building HH, Few Quad of Duke University.[4] The BOGgers led chants during Duke men's basketball games throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.[4] However, the Duke University Judiciary Committee disbanded the group in 1992 for alcohol violations.[5] BOG is now commemorated as a space on the vintage Duke-themed Monopoly game, Dukeopoly.[6][5]

After BOG's dissolution, its former members established Wayne Manor in Wannamaker Dormitory on Duke University's West Campus.[7][6] Its name referenced the home of Bruce Wayne, Batman’s alter ego.[8] The organization began as a Commitment House, meaning only one-third of its members were selected for membership and the rest joined via a lottery.[2] Wayne Manor become a Selective Living Group (SLG) in 1992.[1][2][7]

Wayne Manor emerged as an alternative to fraternity life at Duke University, prioritizing both social engagement and community service without requiring mandatory pledging.[7][2] It selects members irrespective of race, religion, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation.[7]

The organization emphasizes personal growth, engagement in community service projects, fostering faculty interaction, and organizing social events such as mixers, formal dances, and campus-wide parties.[7][2][9] Its Malt Liquor Thursdays (M.L.T.) has been a campus-wide event since 1994.[9] In the early 2000s, Wayne Manor was known for hosting a weekly poker game with a $100 buy-in.[10]

In 2007, some Duke students expressed discontent with the selective-living model because it allowed organizations like Wayne Manor to dominate a dorm's living spaces.[11] To create a more inclusive experience, Duke University banned the recruitment of first-year students by Greek fraternities and non-Greek selective living groups, including Wayne Manor, in 2021.[12] In response, all fraternities at Duke disaffiliated from the Duke Interfraternity Council in favor of the Durham Interfraternity Council.[13]

Soon after, Duke University announced the discontinuation of on-campus housing for SLGs after the 2023–2024 academic year.[1] While many SLGs transitioned to a Living-Learning Community model to retain on-campus housing, Wayne Manor remained an SLG and relocated to off-campus accommodations.[14] Despite disaffiliating from Duke, Wayne Manor continues to participate in mandatory pre-rush training conducted by student-led groups, Duke Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention and Education (SHAPE) and Duke Sexual Assault Prevention Team (SAPT).[15]