DSG plans massive restructuring before elections

The Duke Student Government will hear at its meeting tonight a number of proposed changes as part of a recstructuring of the governing body to be decided by a vote March 2. Most notably, legislators offered constitutional and bylaw amendments proposing radical alterations to the method of executive and senatorial elections.

DSG's highest two offices, the president and executive vice president positions, have traditionally been elected through separate races each spring. Under projected legislation, however, these positions would be forced to run together and be selected by the student body on a joint ticket. Such a move would "foster a cohesive agenda for the president and the executive vice president," according to the amendment's rationale.

Of the other proposed changes, the senatorial election process and the definition of constituencies have been most significantly modified. Under the current system, 52 senators are elected to a one-year term each fall based upon their residency in one of four campus categories--East, West, Central or Off-campus--or are chosen through an application-based at-large selection process.

Under the suggested bylaw amendments, senators would be elected based upon class year and elections would be held in the spring semester, along with class officer elections, for a term beginning in August of the following academic year. Additionally, senatorial candidates would run on a class-specific platform for a spot on one of DSG's four committees, to which senators are presently appointed after election.

If the amendment passes, elections will be held in the spring semester for the rising sophomore, junior and senior classes. Each class will select two members to each of DSG's four committees for a total of eight grade-level representatives. Freshman senator elections will still occur in the fall, along with the at-large selection of eight representatives from all four years and for all four committees. As such, the total number of DSG senators will be reduced by 12 to a body of 40.

"We felt it made a lot more sense that the senator elections should coincide with the executive elections," Slovik said.

However, even if the electoral change legislation is approved, it is contingent upon the group's procurement of technology capable of running such a proposed election. "Obviously, if we don't have the computer program to hold that kind of election, we will have to revert back to the older system or come up with an alternate plan," said Cliff Davison, DSG executive vice president.

Other proposed changes to be presented at the DSG meeting include changing the name of one of the group's four core committees, the Facilities and Athletics Committee, to the Athletics and Campus Services Committee. Such a move is timely, according to DSG cabinet members in light of the development of the University's own Office of Campus Services.

Many see the DSG's reorganization as an opportunity to update the governing body to meet the demands of Duke as it currently stands and a chance for the group to refocus its energies, calling the changes as past due.

"I think we tried to put together a DSG which would work in the frame of the University today," Slovik said. "I think this is a step in the right direction but I think these changes are long overdue."

Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta, who frequently works with the organization and its leaders, said he sees the potential changes as positive.

"I think it's a good thing DSG is reorganizing," he said. "DSG is probably too big and it probably needs a clearer focus of its role and responsibility. I applaud the fact that they're thinking about restructuring."