An invitation

It is inadvisable for any Young Trustee candidate to make campaign promises. However, I made two simple ones: First, that I would write a letter inviting members of the Duke community to contact me with any concerns and/or suggestions on whom to meet with before I graduate. Second, that I would call upon the next Duke Student Government president to continue and expand current DSG President Mike LeFevre’s tradition of trustee-student luncheons. In this letter I plan to do both, but before I do so I would like to share my thoughts on the position of Young Trustee.

The Young Trustee is first and foremost a position of stewardship to Duke University. She or he serves on the Board of Trustees for three years, spending one as a non-voting member and two as a full-fledged voting member. The Board works as a strategic governing body rather than an administrative one. Trustees make decisions about Duke with the long-term advancement of our beloved institution in mind. The Young Trustee must work like any other member. However, the Young Trustee’s proximity to the undergraduate experience gives the rest of the Board invaluable insight to a prominent sector of the University. In this sense, I cannot advocate for any specific constituency, but I must bring a holistic undergraduate viewpoint to the larger University vision.

As such, I invite any and all members of the Duke community to contact me with any concerns or ideas about our University. I plan to meet with each cultural center as well as experts specializing in Duke’s regional and global strategy. If you think there is someone I should absolutely meet with, please do not hesitate to make a suggestion. I would like to gain as much insight as possible before I transition from student to alumna. (Go Class of 2011!) E-mail is the fastest way to get a hold of me: mms33@duke.edu.

Secondly, though April seems far away, it will be here before we know it. Before we are so absorbed by the talented lyricism of Ludacris that we completely forget about DSG election platforms, I want to give an early proposal for the next DSG president: Please continue trustee-student meals. They give trustees an opportunity to keep up with undergraduate life in a relaxed setting. I suggest finding a way to include non-DSG-related students to provide a wider spectrum of perspectives. If you are in the stages of thinking of making a presidential run, I ask that you keep my proposal in mind.

Finally, I do not plan on being invisible. I do not plan on being meek. I plan to be bold. Expect me to stay engaged even after graduation. That is the best way I know how to say thanks for allowing me this opportunity to serve.

Michelle Sohn

Trinity ’11