This story is part two of a three-part series profiling the finalists for the undergraduate young trustee position, which will be selected by a vote of the Duke Student Government Wednesday night.
The story of how young trustee finalist Alex Garinger ended up at Duke University is, for lack of a better word, surprising. Many might think that this literature major from Greenwich, Conn., has had a burning desire since birth to become a Dukie like many other campus leaders. However, Garinger says his passion for Duke developed purely from chance.
Garinger applied as a high school senior to 10 colleges--and was rejected from seven schools and wait-listed at the remaining three, including Duke. The University was the only school that accepted him off the wait list, and so Garinger headed down south to Durham.
"I call it divine intervention," he said. "But I've loved every minute since I've been here."
Since becoming a Blue Devil, Garinger has spent the majority of his tenure involved in campus journalism, rising among the ranks of The Chronicle, the independent daily student-run newspaper at Duke. Garinger currently serves as editor of The Chronicle and president of the Duke Student Publishing Company. Garinger previously served as a wire associate editor, university associate editor, university editor and associate film editor for Recess, The Chronicle's weekly arts and entertainment section.
Through his multiple positions at the newspaper, Garinger has illustrated his ability to lead. Rishi Jaitly, a senior at Princeton University and a friend of Garinger's for eleven years, sees him as a natural leader.
"He leads by example," Jaitly said. "A lot of people look up to Alex because of his unparalleled dedication to what he's doing--he can show people he is committed."
Jaitly also added that Garinger is very approachable. "He has an ability to relate and connect to a wide range of people," he said.
Garinger wants to apply his leadership skills and his knowledge of the University to the position of young trustee. He said that one of his plans, if elected, would be to ensure that the University works to make the school "one of the most incredible undergraduate and graduate experiences in the country."
Garinger said the biggest projects the Board of Trustees will have to tackle are the campus' construction plans--namely the new student center and the redevelopment of Central Campus.
"There are going to be tons and tons of decisions on both aspects that the Board is going to have to make, not only where things are going, but the general tone of the project," he said. "Questions like, 'What the mix of residential and commercial areas will be like?' and 'Are we going to have a frat row?'"
Garinger also said the Board will have to formulate a vision for the future direction of the University and its potential "ivying."
"With all of the top administrators coming in from Ivy League schools, they are going to have to make some decisions about where we want Duke to be," he said.
"What is so unique is that we are so young--there is so much opportunity to change things, where at other schools that isn't there," he said. "It is also a question of where to put resources."
To compete with its top-ranked peers, institutions such as Harvard and Stanford Universities, Garinger believes the school will need to work on recruitment of top faculty members as well as making student life a priority.
"It's tough to lure [top faculty] to Durham, but we could do it," he said.
As part of the undergraduate life experience on campus, Garinger sees a need for the evaluation of locations for social events.
"When fraternities left the Quad, students suddenly looked around and said 'It's not that fun to have a party in a commons room,'" Garinger said, accounting for the growth in the off-campus social scene. "I am not sure that the on-campus scene will ever die--I think we'll just get to a point where commons rooms will need to be made more hospitable."
He thinks that the new construction could provide an opportunity for the return of social life on campus.
"I think there are so many opportunities in the new student center, for example a pub or something, that could be there socially," he said. "Social life has been in a transition period at the moment--it's sort of all about location, location, location."
As the primary news source of the Duke Community, The Chronicle places a high value on credibility and objectivity and is committed to upholding this standard of editorial decisions as it relates to this year's young trustee selection process. Alex Garinger, has not participated in any discussion, decisions or editing of stories related to the young trustee coverage.
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