Dwayne Peterkin II (’17)

Name: Dwayne Peterkin II

Year: Junior

Hometown: Baltimore, Md.

Involvement: Chi Psi Fraternity, Momentum Crew, Trailblaze, Magnolia Scholars

Major: Communication

Minor: Entrepreneurship

Relationship Status: Single as a Pringle and ready to mingle

HC (Her Campus): So Dwanye, Happy Post-Halloween! Did you dress up for Halloween this year?

DP (Dwayne Peterkin II): I’m really, really bad at dressing up for Halloween so, no. But I do enjoy seeing what other people put on because it’s always really, really funny.

HC: What was the best Halloween costume you saw this year?

DP: Two of my friends went as “Netflix and Chill,” which was so funny. They actually made their t-shirts themselves, so one was Netflix and the other was Chill.

HC: The dynamic duo?

DP: The dynamic duo.

HC: What is the song that describes your love life at the moment?

DP: That’s an interesting question. I listen to a lot of music, and I’m having trouble deciding on a song that doesn’t make me seem like a “thot,” but I’m going to go with “Hotline Bling” by Drake

HC: What’s been your biggest achievement at college so far?

DP: I will say my biggest achievement will definitely just be getting admitted to Wake Forest because it was my top choice school. I applied early decision, got in, and basically had a big party. It was a neighborhood thing when I got into college here because not a lot of people from my hometown make it to college, much less a university like Wake. So that was definitely one of my biggest accomplishments.

HC: What did you do when you opened that acceptance letter?

DP: Funny story. Wake Forest actually lost my letter. According to the Wake Forest office, my address – in the middle of Baltimore City – doesn’t exist. So, they mailed it after the fact, but I actually had to call the Dean of Admissions myself. He gave me my admissions decision on the way back from a football practice, and I was so excited that I remember jumping out of a moving car, running down my street up to the door, and almost tearing off my front door, accidentally. Yeah, my mom loved that one (laughs).

HC: Well I’m glad the Dean didn’t have to give you any bad news over the phone, because that would’ve made for an awkward conversation. On that same note, what’s your biggest achievement as a brother at Chi Psi, so far? 

DP: I’ve been the Chi Psi Risk Manager for a couple semesters, and I definitely think just becoming a part of a fraternity that I love where I fit in with the guys [is an achievement]. We all gel in our very own different ways, and I think that’s a good thing, plus having a position. The fact that my brothers thought enough of me to elect me not once, but twice, is a big deal to me.

HC: They put all the responsibility in your hands.

DP: Let’s not say all the responsibility, but a fair amount (laughs).

HC: What do you like most about your brotherhood?

DP: Definitely the fact that everyone is so different. There’s a lot of people from different backgrounds, including those different from my own, and we can still find things to talk about.

HC: Who was your favorite Power Ranger?

DP: Favorite Power Ranger… I’m going to go with the black/red/green/gold ranger, Tommy. Always and forever. So, boom.

HC: Do you identify more with sloths or honey badgers?

DP: Honey badgers. Honey badgers get what they want. Boom.

HC: That’s a good energy to channel. Especially when you’re at Wake Forest. What’s one thing about you I couldn’t tell by looking?

DP: I’m somewhat – I won’t say sensitive – but I’m very thoughtful and can be very compassionate with other people. I can understand where they’re coming from. I kind of suffer from resting sad face, so most people don’t pick that up. They might think I’m kind of mean, but I actually do listen to people, see what they have going on, and hear their respective stories.

HC: You’re a softie. In 40 years, what will you most fondly look back on at Wake Forest? When you’re old … and bald?

DP: I’m definitely going to look back on the mistakes and the stupid things I did, because those are going to be what propel me to learn and be different. Definitely, the mistakes are going to be something I value more than the good things I did. Growth and development. I’m a big fan of your process as a person. So I’m definitely going to appreciate what got me to wherever I will be.

HC: If you were on death row, what would your last meal be?

DP: Pad Thai. I am a tremendous fan of spicy food. I love Thai food, so it would probably be the hottest Pad Thai that I could ever find.

HC: So if death row doesn’t kill you, the Pad Thai would?

DP: Yes, the Pad Thai would definitely get me first.

HC: What’s your favorite Chi Psi tradition?

DP: At a lot of recent parties, we’ve been doing the Phillip Spencer chant at the end.

HC: How does the Phillip Spencer chant go?

DP: Uh, I’m not doing the chant (laughs). Join us on a Friday or Saturday night to hear said chant. I heard from an older brother that it started because we had a guy who had passed away, and he really loved that song and. It’s something that started in remembrance of him, and it carried on. It’s part of a bond that a lot of people in Chi Psi have, and it’s something I’ve definitely appreciated.  Even when I first got my bid, I didn’t really know much about it. You see a bunch of people jumping around, and I’m like, “What are these stupid frat boys doing?” But it’s good to be a part of something that has traditions that actually matter – you celebrate actual people instead of just doing something to garner attention. It’s something that has meaning, so it’s definitely something I appreciate.

HC: What’s the best thing about your hometown?

DP: Best thing about my hometown of Baltimore, Maryland… Definitely going to have to go with… Food.

HC: I thought you were going to go with the Ravens.

DP: They’re probably one of the better things, but I’m going to say the food, because in Baltimore, we have our inner harbor, and, as dirty as it may be, we somehow manage to get decent – more than decent – great seafood out of the Chesapeake Bay. So crabs are a big part of my summer – old bay chips, just any type of food that comes out of the city. I love it.

HC: So you mentioned that you were on the Trailblaze board. What is your position exactly?

DP: The board is made up of people that all serve an equal function.  We’re all working towards fighting sexual assault as an issue on college campuses, specifically our very own campus. It’s just good to be part of something that works towards an issue we all need to take care of and take very seriously.

HC: So how is Trailblaze different from PREPARE or any of the other sexual assault groups on campus?

DP: It’s not that we’re better or worse than anybody. We don’t really think of it as a competition, but what we pride ourselves on is an active dialogue. We are trying to change the normal narrative around sexual assault. It can happen in various ways, and it’s an issue that effects all of us, no matter what race you are, and whether you’re Greek or non-Greek. We’re just trying to change that narrative, and we take it as a community issue. It’s great to have multiple groups that acknowledge the issue of sexual assault and work through it, because the more people you have that care about something like this, the bigger difference we can make.

HC: So, you’re also a dancer?

DP: I do love to dance.

HC: And you mentioned you’re involved in Momentum Crew. So do you guys have shows or performances?

DP: During the spring semester, there’s a competition called Prelude where people send in an audition video and get to compete. A lot of different crews from around North Carolina come, and we do different performances around campus. It’s just a lot of fun, and I love dancing. I love being a part of the group.

HC: Have you always been a dancer?

DP: I have. It’s not been something I was really conscious of. It was because of my mom – she wasn’t an official dancer either, but my mom loves to turn music on and dance. Dancing was just something I grew up doing with friends. I was a big Michael Jackson-Usher-Chris Brown fan growing up, so I just got used to dancing and I eventually got better at it. I turned out to be better at it than the average bear, so it’s just something that kind of became a part of who I am.

HC: So joining a group was something you decided to do in college?

DP: I was definitely very happy to see that there was a group for it, because at first I was just like, “Hey, I’m that guy dancing on a college campus,” and now I’m like, “Hey, I’m that guy who’s with other people who like to dance on college campuses.” I will admit that even when I have my headphones on and am walking across campus, I have to catch myself from just pop lockin’ – just a little bit.

HC: Bustin’ a move, as they say?

DP: As they say.

HC: Do you guys do routines?

DP: We do have people that do choreography. We have people who freestyle. Everybody tries to do a little of everything. It’s not even a matter of being a hip hop dancer, it’s trying to become a better and well-rounded dancer. We have people who are a part of the modern [dance] group, people who are part of the dance companies, and people whose styles aren’t even hip hop – people who are just trying to become a better dancer. 

• WFU Campus Cutie