At last night's Duke Student Government meeting, DSG President Jordan Bazinsky was elected to a three-year term as Young Trustee by DSG and the InterCommunity Council, completing a selection process that Bazinsky described as "well done."
"I'm really excited," Bazinsky said of his victory. "[I look forward to] becoming acquainted with everyone there [on the Board of Trustees]... and going full speed ahead."
In a speech to the electors prior to the vote, Bazinsky outlined his own conception of the Young Trustee position, calling it "a fully empowered member of the board.... You have to be a trustee of the faith of the entire University."
The new Young Trustee also stressed his prior interaction with current board members, citing his experience as a representative to the Business and Finance Committee of the board, as well as his work on issues such as the alcohol policy and same-sex unions.
In a question-and-answer session following his speech, Bazinsky addressed a range of issues. He advocated greater health benefits and increased access to on-campus social and living spaces for graduate students; he pushed for greater economic and social investment in Durham that would mutually benefit both the city and the University; and he expressed his admiration for the University master plan while stressing the need for increased handicapped access on campus.
When asked which of his skills would be most beneficial to the position of Young Trustee, Bazinsky highlighted his "unique ability to be both serious and fun" and said that he would "be that trustee in and out of the board... not just present at the board."
He also emphasized his willingness to stand up for his beliefs without losing the respect of his colleagues on the board. "Are we willing to take a stand?.... I think I have the ability to do that," he said.
Bazinsky said he was impressed with the questions that DSG and ICC members asked. "They really put to the test a lot of what we wrote in our applications," he said.
He also had praise for his competitors in the election process, seniors Jim Lazarus and Rob Leonard, calling their participation "a real honor" and noting that they were both well-qualified candidates.
Lazarus, who has been active in residential and social life issues during his time at the University, said that "my great success comes from the experience I've gained from both successes and failures." He pointed to the failure of the Alcohol Task Force as one such learning experience, calling it "not just a professional but a personal failure... [but] I learned a new perspective." Still, Lazarus said, "I have never shied away from a challenge.... No university can be a great university without taking risks."
Leonard stressed his extensive record of community involvement as the hallmark of his Duke career, particularly his leadership of the Community Service Center and tenure as vice president of Campus Council. He cited "interdisciplinary learning, diversity and community" as the top priorities facing the University.
"We are blessed.... We are a young and ambitious university," Leonard said. He cited a number of personal goals, including greater interaction between faculty, graduate students and undergraduates and the maintenance of a strong University work force, including adequate health care coverage and wages.
IN OTHER BUSINESS: DSG freshman legislator Pushpa Raja and DSG sophomore legislator John Njoku were elected to fill two vacancies on the SOFC. Two other vacancies on the DSG Elections Commission were filled by freshman legislator Taylor Collison and senior legislator Jaime Marsanico.
DSG also gave unanimous approval to two budgetary statutes: the first for funding of the Blackburn Literary Festival, and the second for funding of the Duke Conservative Union's hosting of Ward Connelly.
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