Ubong Akpaninyie, a sophomore, and Gordon Wilson, a freshman, have presented valuable ideas to improve Duke-Durham relations and develop a strong relationship with the Duke Partnership for Service. We would be excited to work with either candidate on his initiatives. However, we chose to endorse Akpaninyie for this year's Duke Student Government vice president for Durham and regional affairs.
Akpaninyie's priorities for next year align closely with our own, and he demonstrated a good understanding of our function. His ideas to promote freshman involvement in social action complements the transformation of our First-Year Program, as do his ideas for on-campus events. He proposed concrete ideas to promote clear and effective communication between dPS and DSG, and a commitment to leveraging DSG's resources to further our goals.
We value his extra year on the committee, and feel that this experience allowed him to compare and evaluate different philosophies in this position. He demonstrated a clear understanding of the financial reality with respect to transportation issues, but also has ideas for creating long-term solutions in spite of this. Akpaninyie has proactively researched social action intiatives at other universities, and has used this extensive knowledge to develop creative ideas to address Durham-related issues. Finally, we are confident in his ability to relate to major stakeholders, such as the administration, student body and community partners.
Becky Agostino
President, Duke Partnership for Service
Trinity '11
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