During the first semester at Duke Kunshan University, a group of students formed the Kunshan Student Ambassador Council, administering two surveys to the student population of DKU and issuing an action proposal to enhance the experience of studying in Kunshan. Hwee Min Lo, DKU-KSAC's founding graduate co-chair, is in Kunshan working to complete a one-year graduate program in global health. Fellow founding member or DKU-KSAC, Quang Do, returned to Duke's campus after studying in Kunshan during the inaugural Fall semester. The Chronicle's Carleigh Stiehm interviewed these two founding members to discuss the goals of DKU-KSAC and their time on the new campus.
The Chronicle: What should students know about DKU-KSAC?
Hwee Min Lo: The mission of DKU-KSAC is to represent DKU to the outside world, our representative countries and universities. Our involvement at DKU includes promoting DKU's value and development as an institution, representing DKU as a student-driven foreign arm of the DKU leadership, in hosting delegates coming to DKU, collaborating with Duke KSAC to share their advice and knowledge on issues pertaining to DKU and providing feedback to administration and forums outside of DKU.
Quang Do: DKU-KSAC is a committee representing the viewpoints and interests of students at DKU. Currently, the focus of DKU-KSAC is to work hand in hand with Duke KSAC and provide advice to DKU administration in order to help guide the development of DKU experience. DKU-KSAC represents students on several aspects, including academic, student welfare, social life, etc. Together with Duke KSAC, in the future, DKU-KSAC will continue the effort to integrate the two campuses.
TC: Why do you think it was important that it was founded?
QD: Because DKU is a brand-new campus. It means that there are a lot of areas that need to be worked and improved on. And DKU officials are very interested in student insight and experience. With a diverse body, DKU-KSAC represents the student voice on many issues and make suggestions that are acted on by the administration. DKU-KSAC helps to make sure that the experience that each student would take away at the end of the semester is at its best.
TC: Do you think there are any possible challenges to running a democratic student organization while in a non-democratic country?
HML: I think all kinds of challenges do exist, not only within a non-democratic country, but even among students who come from countries with different concept of democracy. This is often led by how we view democracy. To some, it is the freedom of speech, while to others, it is to listen to the majority. I think the challenge to running a democratic student organization is challenging anywhere. Democracy is a fluid but sensitive concept, and while being in China, we are just conscious of certain student's perspective and needs, and we accommodate accordingly.
QD: This was one of our concerns during last semester. Nevertheless, DKU-KSAC remains a democratic organization. We did not encounter any problems regarding the difference in the political system. However, in the future, possible challenges may appear when it comes to work with other schools and groups in the local community who may have a different point of view. Besides that, I don't see any problem within the DKU-KSAC committee itself.
TC: As a student at DKU, what was the biggest challenge that you faced?
QD: As a student from Duke to DKU, the biggest challenge for me was the social atmosphere at DKU. By that, I mean, how active students were in terms of creating and participating in school events. Surely compared to Duke, there were not many student organizations and activities, and I pretty much enjoy this at Duke. However, I saw that as an opportunity to create some new experiences. I and some other students work together to create student organizations, student activities, etc. This made my pioneering experience rewarding.
TC: Since undergraduates turn over every semester, will it be challenging to keep the leadership structure in place?
HML: At DKU, we understand that the bulk of the student population comes from the undergraduates who are attending DKU for just one semester. With that knowledge, other student organizations, including KSAC, have been very mindful in also promoting leadership positions to the graduate population. With each graduate student staying for a longer period of time, they also function as messengers that help to transfer the legacy and previous work of the organization to the next semester. I like to call this the renewable cycle of command. This continuous process ensures that the work and mission of each organization is consistently passed on, and each new batch just builds on the old. For example, there will always be an undergraduate chair, and a graduate co-chair. My previous KSAC partner, Pranav Sridhar, was the undergraduate chair, and we worked together from the beginning of KSAC. The feasibility of such a process has not only allowed me to be familiar with the work of KSAC, but also plan for the future of KSAC in this semester from what I have learned and observed from the Fall semester.
TC: What did you find the most significant finding of the survey?
HML: Overall, our most significant finding was that most student were pleased with their experience at DKU. Not only in the standard of academic received, but even in the student life and activities that were created by them for them. Inevitably, we are building a school together, and even when times seems blurry, we can only hold tight and press on. Most importantly, I think the concept of "Builders of DKU" mentioned by DKU Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Bullock has been emulated in our survey results.
QD: There were not a small number of students who had concern with health care facilities and service. For example, we need to have an on-campus nurse. This indeed was a pressing problem that the DKU administration needs to act on as soon as possible. DKU-KSAC made specific suggestions to the administration regarding this matter and I believe that they are working on it.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.