Vote Nur for president

After hearing from all four candidates for Duke Student Government president, Blue Devils United is excited by the potential that we see and is most impressed by Awa Nur and Chelsea Goldstein. Both showed that they have the understanding, competency and commitment to be the leader of DSG. We, however, saw Nur set herself apart with her proactive goals and inclusive perspective.

A DSG president is expected to react to problems after they have arisen, but it is rare to see one who is driven to address issues before they develop. As a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally student organization on campus, Blue Devils United wants a President who not only understands our goals, but also is willing to push for them. For example, all of the candidates voiced their support for creating gender-neutral housing options, but only Awa promised that it would be a priority among the issues she will address next year. We also support her efforts to address gender, athletics, the Durham community and Central Campus as they pertain to campus culture and Duke's future. This reflects on both her breadth of understanding and her focus on proactive rather than reactive leadership.

Nur impressed us with her insight and ability to go beyond contrived policies. Looking at the lack of interaction between social groups, it is simple to propose that sharing physical spaces is the solution. Nur, however, sees the bigger picture where diverse groups communicate and collaborate to broaden interaction. One of Nur's refreshing yet simple solutions is to have student organizations extend listserv privileges to one another. On this issue and many more, Nur has shown her ability to generate new and practical ideas for progress.

The DSG president should be many things, but most importantly, a student advocate with the insight and drive to effectively fix both existing and developing problems. For this reason, Blue Devils United endorses Awa Nur for DSG president.

Kevin Song

President, Blue Devils United

Trinity '11