For the eighth consecutive year, we are administering our first-year survey, a questionnaire that aims to quantify the demographics, beliefs and interests of each first-year class.
A total of 1,982 undergraduate students cast a ballot in this year’s DSG election, which was open from noon Monday to noon Tuesday. The previous election cycle received 500 more votes, with a total turnout of 2,482 students.
The University received a record-high 53,223 Regular Decision applications, bringing the cycle’s acceptance rate to an all-time low of 3.67%, down from 4.1% last year.
According to Edmund Malesky, DCID director and professor of political science, Sanford leadership paused the center’s activities “because [DCID] did not have an alternative funding model in place.”
At Duke, there were 21 undergraduate and graduate students from the 11 “red list” countries enrolled in fall 2023, with 50 more from “orange list” countries and 12 from “yellow list” countries. In fall 2024, international students comprised 11% of the undergraduate student population and 35% of the graduate student body.
Students expressed generally positive sentiments about the University’s ability to meet their dining requirements, saying that Duke officials were largely attentive to their needs, although offerings could be limited in some cases.
Duke has become the subject of national discussion through an unlikely setting, taking on a supporting role in the latest season of HBO’s hit TV show, “The White Lotus.” However, University administrators are far from enthusiastic about its portrayal.
Duke Student Government approved $51,603.49 in student funding requests and received Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention and Education training at its Wednesday meeting.
The two presidential candidates, Katelyn Cai and Tara Singh, joined executive vice president candidate Dylan Cawley to discuss their goals and experiences ahead of DSG’s election, which will run from March 31 at noon to April 1 at noon.
The three finalists, seniors Danica Bajaj, Jax Nalley and Gabriela Pereda, answered questions at a panel moderated by sophomore Jack Sabo, chair of the Undergraduate Young Trustee nominating committee.
Juniors Katelyn Cai and Tara Singh are running for DSG president, while junior Dylan Cawley is running for the executive vice president position.
Cawley stated that the biggest challenge facing DSG is the disconnect between the work it does and its impact on the student body. He aims to “address and meet [this challenge] head-on” as EVP to provide his peers with a clearer idea of the organization’s work.
Markwei’s campaign platform hinges on two core tenets: clarity and ease. To her, that means expanding visibility for student groups and increasing access to student resources.
Singh’s campaign is split into three pillars, which she dubbed her “ABCs”: advocacy, belonging and connection.
Drawing from her experiences in DSG, Cai’s presidential campaign centers on three main components: transparency, advocacy and practicality. By capitalizing on these areas, she hopes to “help other students have the best college experience possible.”
The three graduate/professional finalists, Austin Beason, Keanu Valibia and Dakota Douglas, spoke at a panel moderated by Kiara Ekeigwe, Trinity ‘24, chair of the Graduate/Professional Young Trustee nominating committee and master’s candidate in global health.
Seniors Danica Bajaj, Jax Nalley and Gabriela Pereda are this year’s selected undergraduate finalists, while Austin Beason, Keanu Valibia and Dakota Douglas are the selected Graduate/Professional Young Trustee finalists.
For Bajaj, serving on the Board of Trustees would offer her the opportunity to “return the favor to Duke in any way that [she] can.” She envisions Duke as “a place that people feel so proud to attend that long after they leave, they still want to be involved.”
If selected as a Young Trustee, Nalley hopes to help Duke navigate tensions between Duke and underrepresented communities by reinforcing its core mission and values while making the University more accessible and welcoming to those who feel alienated from it.
Institutional transparency is a key priority for Pereda. If selected, she would push for Duke to be more open about how it plans to navigate threats to higher education, believing this is essential to prevent students from feeling at odds with administrators.
