Duke Student Government announced a new mentorship program based on academic majors and shared plans for an upcoming initiative to increase student attendance at University athletic events at its Wednesday meeting.
Committee updates
Senior Alessandro Dal Bon, vice president of academic affairs, announced the pilot program for “Major Moment,” a new mentorship program that will be launched Monday.
“This new program will pair sophomores with upperclassmen in their major departments and foster authentic connections through meetups and events,” Dal Bon said. “If you want to learn about classes, career paths, study abroad and more from the perspective of someone further along your chosen academic path, this is the perfect opportunity.”
This pilot run of the program will take 100 mentors and mentees.
Junior Mariam Gulamhusein, vice president of services and sustainability, shared that the committee is in the “early stages” of developing an incentive system to expand student attendance for Olympic sporting events — meaning games that aren’t basketball or football — which is purportedly similar to a program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Junior Tara Singh, vice president of campus life, noted that the committee is working on a version of DSG’s new airport transportation initiative for spring break, which she said the Graduate and Professional Student Government has agreed to help finance. All undergraduate and graduate students will be allowed to use the shuttle service. Additionally, the committee has also begun groundwork to expand resident assistant food plans.
Sophomore Edison Chen, a senator in the equity and outreach committee, said the committee is working with University administration to create free vouchers for off-campus mental health services.
In other business
DSG President Heather Raslan, a senior, opened the meeting with an announcement regarding attendance.
“I just want to reiterate how important it is that you guys come to senate every single week. You guys were voted for and elected by the student body … The heart of DSG really is the senate space.” Raslan said. “… Moving forward, I really don’t want us to not be meeting quorum or having people leave early so that we can no longer be at quorum.”
Raslan also shared that the executive board passed an executive order over the weekend relating to the governing body’s policy on candidate eligibility, making the language clearer and “more inclusive” to “eliminate any confusion” before DSG elections later this semester.
Senators were scheduled to elect their judiciary committee for the next year during Wednesday’s meeting, but decided to postpone the elections to next week after some deliberation.
SOFC allocations
Senators approved the following Student Organization Finance Committee requests:
NeuroCare: $5,000 funded in full to cover entertainment costs for its March 28 Coffeehouse Concert event.
Duke Chinese Theater: $6,930 out of a requested $10,600 to cover catering and space rental costs for its March 18 spring performance of “The Visit.”
Project Tadpole: $3,882.95 out of a requested $4,496.24 to cover catering and space rental costs for its April 2 Accessibility at Duke expo.
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Jeremiah Fang is a Trinity junior and a staff reporter for the news department.