Young Trustee selection process criticized too harshly

In response to "A Look Back" (Feb. 23), I must say as an Intercommunity Council and YNTC member during the meetings he describes that I completely disagree with the criticisms raised by people in the article.

Perhaps the Young Trustee process needs to be reviewed, and perhaps better advertised, but the criticism of Rachael Solomon, Trinity '05, goes too far. And it is ridiculous to claim that junior Joel Kliksberg was to blame for letting her speak and "intimidate" us.

At the time, I disagreed with her position on Young Trustee candidate Philip Kurian, but I recognized that Solomon represented a community at Duke, and if she felt that a potential Young Trustee would not represent or respect that segment, then she had every right to voice her concern. I would have done the same if our positions had been reversed. The ICC represents nearly every group at Duke, and finding a candidate that is suitable to all is just as important as having great credentials (as most did in 2005). It is paramount to find a well-rounded and acceptable candidate who truly represents Duke's diverse community.

Brian West

Trinity '05