Mizrahi, Habashi for DSG

The Hindu Students Association endorses Isaac Mizrahi for Duke Student Government president and Michael Habashi for vice president for student life. While all candidates are equally competent and capable of serving as president, as a religious group, we felt that Mizrahi was most familiar with and understood the issues surrounding minority religions on campus and could relate well to our challenges and future aspirations. Additionally, we feel that his perspective as an outsider to DSG would be refreshing, and his enthusiasm would help bring about a positive change to student life on campus. His vision of reaching out to the community and making students an integral part of DSG very much resonates with organizations that are looking for the right means to raise awareness and voice concerns.

Both candidates for vice president for student life have shown exceptional leadership in DSG this past year as senators for student affairs. Although Simpson has had one more year of experience as a DSG senator, we believe Habashi is the right candidate for VP. Both candidates advocated for similar changes to DSG, transparency, advocacy, etc. Simpson and Habashi, however, differed on how to implement those ideas. As a student organization, we find it hard to believe that there will be adequate student involvement in order to sustain action-based focus groups as per Simpson’s plan. Having open committee meetings allows for student organizations to attend when the agenda coincides with the organization’s mission, which may foster greater attendance, participation and transparency in DSG. Furthermore, we believe Habashi’s unique experience with the DSG Survey Commission has identified key issues facing every student on campus. While Habashi has not collected data directly related to religious life on campus, his experience with this year’s survey provides insight into the lives of undergraduates at Duke. Armed with empirical proof and experience working in DSG, Habashi is the candidate HSA is endorsing to put the “U” back in student life.

Moana Jagasia

Trinity ’11, co-president, Hindu Students Association

Kavin Vasudevan

Pratt ’13, treasurer, Hindu Students Association