Duke Student Government President Matthew Slovik knows campus politics.
He was a DSG legislator freshman year, vice president for facilities and athletics sophomore year and a legislator again the second semester of junior year, after returning from a semester in Florence. Now, as a senior and head of the main student governing body, he sees plenty of options for freshmen who want to get involved in student government.
"There's everything from running as a legislator to getting involved on a University committee or a trustee committee. If you want to work on public relations, or you want to work on computer issues or you want to work on a number of potential task forces, there's a ton of ways to get involved," said Slovik, a public policy studies major with a minor in history. "So don't look at [DSG] and say, 'I don't want to run a campaign.'"
While the Newton, Mass., native might be used to campaigning from his experience with DSG, he said a main part of his job is to interact with students on a day-to-day basis.
"Trying to do what's best for a student body is not about sitting in an office and trying to figure out what you think people want," he said. "It's about having people know who you are so they can say, 'Oh, I have an issue,' or 'Oh, I have a suggestion,' or 'I have an idea,' and knowing where to go and who to talk to."
Although the year has just begun, Slovik already has big plans for DSG. His priorities include increasing student input into various facets of campus life and increasing collaboration with Campus Council and the Duke University Union.
"Over the past few years, there's been some cause of some strife, but we're three different organizations who all have to share," he said. "These groups can better help the students by working together rather than working against each other."
Campus safety is another major priority on DSG's to-do list. Slovik said he wants to see a proactive response to increasing University-wide safety. He suggested improvements such as lighting and trimming trees around campus.
"It's important for students to feel that the University is really making an active move to help keep it safer," he said. "I want students to be able to walk around campus and not to worry about what could be hiding behind each corner or worry about going to the bathroom in the middle of the night."
Despite the extensive agenda Slovik has set, Vice President of Student Affairs Larry Moneta is impressed with his drive and determination.
"Matt is a polished young man who has a clear sense of direction," Moneta said. "He is very comfortable working with administrative leadership. He knows that he has a short time as DSG president to accomplish the things that he has in mind and he's determined to do that."
Later this fall, DSG will also be looking at the results of Visions of Duke, a survey project DSG cabinet members Rick Garcia and Dave Kahne led last spring. Slovik said the report, which should be complete by early October, will be presented to the Board of Trustees and other campus leaders. It will also help to further Slovik's goal of promoting student voices on campus.
"It will be written proof, saying this is what students want and this is how students feel," Slovik said.
While Slovik does not have any definite plans beyond graduation, he does have an idea of what he hopes to see after his term is complete.
"When I pass the reins, I'd like to see DSG as an organization that has really helped to improve the campus experience and the college experience for Duke students," he said. "It's not about accomplishing 20 different goals that I want to do, it's going to be accomplishing one, two or three goals that are really going to make a difference."
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