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LeAnn Levering
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Three candidtaes vying to become DSG president**
Trinity junior LeAnn Levering said she would take an activist's approach to student government if elected president of Duke Student Government.
"The change from [Associated Students of Duke University] to DSG was good, but the student government still waits for administrators to do things and then simply reacts," Levering said.
Among other changes, DSG legislators need to be taught the basics of the government at the beginning of their terms, she said.
"There's a lot of wasted energy in the legislature. They don't realize what they can do," Levering said.
In addition, DSG must have better public relations so students will be more aware of what their government is doing, she said. She wants to hold meetings between DSG and various student groups on a regular basis, not just when conflicts arise.
Levering said she is opposed to an all-freshman East Campus because upperclass students should have the option of living there. If they are not allowed to do so, they might move off campus.
She also endorses creating more block housing and selective dorms, but believes that lottery housing should remain a viable option.
The freshman class should live on both East and West, with new dormitories built either in the woods surrounding West or in the parking lots near new dorms, she said.
"The freshmen feel cut off as it is. We shouldn't isolate them any more," she said.
To combat anti-intellectualism, Levering suggests strengthening majors' unions.
"They are one of the best ways to have more faculty-student interaction," she said.
Limiting students' social options is not an effective way to promote intellectual life, Levering said. Specifically, she believes more free space should be made available in the Bryan Center for student groups.
"It's ridiculous that the administration is forcing us to cut back on social events so we'll `think' more," she said.
Levering said she is in favor of greek life because of the sense of cohesiveness it provides for students. However, she believes substantial improvements can be made to the greek system. For example, sororities need more physical space and visibility, she said.
Although she has never been a member of DSG, Levering said her role as an activist with other student groups and events, including her lead role planning the Take Back the Night march, has prepared her for the position of DSG president.
"I'm not entrenched in the DSG system, but I've associated with it a lot and I'm very familiar with it," she said.
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