The Deuce is loose.
Sophomore Jonathan "Deuce" Bigelow, was named the next president of the Duke University Union Sunday night. The classics major will succeed senior Jesse Panuccio in May.
"I was really pleased with my Union experience over this past year," said Bigelow, who serves as executive secretary and policy chair of the primary student programming group on campus. "It's been great being part of such a fantastic organization, and I wanted to try my hand at president."
Bigelow, a soft-spoken Lumberton, N.C., native, has primarily worked on internal Union issues in his current positions, but Panuccio said his successor should fit the role well, bringing a different style and experience to the position.
"Jonathan has been gaining over the past year knowledge about the Union and the larger University governance and politics. He has tremendous potential as a leader, both within our Union and externally for the campus," Panuccio said. He added that Bigelow is a friendly, reserved and principled leader whom people warm up to very quickly.
Bigelow said he became interested in the Union last spring after he was accepted to Round Table, a selective living group of which then-Union president senior Brady Beecham was also a member.
"I was looking to get more involved than I had been... and Brady told me about the opportunities of the Union. I followed through and here I am," said Bigelow, who got his nickname from the movie Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.
One of Bigelow's major goals for next year is implementing a development plan for the Union.
"We have an endowment that has been largely ignored by The Campaign for Duke. With the end of the University's campaign we are free to actively fundraise," he said. "I think we owe it to students to lessen our dependence on tuition--which is not to say that we don't need more money from students."
The undergraduate student body will vote Feb. 28 on a referendum that calls for a $22-per-year hike in the student activities fee for the Union.
The increase would help bring more major attractions and speakers, showcase Broadway at Duke performances for more than one night and lower ticket prices for OnStage and Quad Flicks shows.
"Should we get the funds that we're asking for, it would be a substantial shot in the arm," Bigelow said. "It will be crucial next year that the money is not squandered, [but is] used as well as possible. Duke students deserve more and better programming."
Bigelow will also need to serve as a strong voice in the shaping of the new Student Village, as well as work with the new director for student life and prepare the Union for the 2004-2005 celebration of its 50th anniversary, Panuccio said.
Another challenge for the Union next year is the lack of experience on the executive and chairs boards. The organization will lose many of its current leaders to graduation.
"Some people are a little concerned about that, but I think that's an exciting thing," Panuccio said. "There will be a really enthusiastic team of younger people next year."
The other leadership positions for the Union should be filled within the next few weeks. Applications for the executive board, open to all students, are due Feb. 5, while those for subcommittee chairs are due Feb. 11.
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