What makes a qualified candidate

While I expected the acknowledgement that the Young Trustee semi-finalist pool shows little diversity, I take issue with Young Trustee Nominating Committee Chair Christine Larson’s assertion that Duke Student Government experience tends to make for a ‘more qualified’ candidate. I find this assertion to be erroneous, as DSG appears to be quite an insular organization that has a very limited (and far from eclectic) view and understanding of campus issues beyond topics such as gender relations between the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association. Let us not overstate a student’s experience on DSG as one that produces a ‘more qualified’ candidate, more so than any other prominent leadership entity on campus. In fact, these ‘more qualified’ candidates who come from a DSG background may speak volumes about the lack of diversity among the candidates and the often homogenous and limited vision of campus issues. We shouldn’t delude ourselves into thinking that experiences with other campus organizations don’t, in fact, produce more qualified candidates than those with present or prior DSG affiliation.

Nana Asante

Trinity ’12