Editorial: What should they do now?

Once the run-off for Duke Student Government is completed the week after spring break, the newly elected executive board should promptly begin organizing and working toward the year ahead. An effective executive board must start working in March to plan for the next year, and with the myriad challenges facing DSG next year, this pre-planning is more important than ever.

One of the largest issues is an internal one: DSG has been notoriously ineffective during its existence, and significant restructuring is necessary to ensure the viability of the organization and to make the organization relevant to students. The executive committee should work to reorganize DSG on a ticket system so that the president is elected along with at least one other executive board member. Moreover, the legislature should be allowed to select its own leader in the executive vice president, and perhaps the legislature should be reduced in size to encourage greater efficiency.

Beyond restructuring, DSG also needs to improve its image on campus. Following the platform of executive vice president-elect Clifford Davison, DSG should work to reduce its elitism while simultaneously increasing its degree of professionalism. If DSG is going to be taken seriously by the administration and students, it needs to project an image of confidence. DSG also needs to work on improving communication with students. One way to start is by transforming the DSG website into a useful tool providing students with information, services and a forum to provide feedback to DSG.

More importantly, DSG needs to refocus on its purpose. DSG is not, never has been, and should not ever become a programming organization. Its purpose is to serve as a liaison between the student body and the administration, to serve as a lobbying force for student interests. DSG needs to do more to represent student interests to the administration--passing resolutions is not sufficient. DSG also needs to stay away from the territory of the Duke University Union and Campus Council and stick to policy questions.

The executive board should also take a hard look at the Student Organization Finance Committee and attempt to iron out the inequities in the current system for funding student groups.

In terms of issues, the most important next year will include a review of Curriculum 2000, planning for the student village, and the selection of a new president, all of which the executive board should begin working on immediately.