Anthony Vitarelli is the clear choice for Duke Student Government president. His platform represents a solid balance of vision and focus, showing that he has both an understanding of the function of DSG president within the organization and the necessary interaction between DSG and the community. The breadth and depth of Vitarelli's agenda is impressive, and he has the potential to accomplish a great deal at the helm of DSG.
Vitarelli describes the dual role of DSG president as both an internal and external office. He hopes to serve as both a motivator within DSG and a visible champion of the entire student body. His top three issues are the improvement of mental and physical health, the promotion of academic risk-taking and the development of the campus environment.
Most importantly, Vitarelli is able to back up his vision with specifics about what he wants to get done and how he plans on doing it. To increase the visibility of DSG he will hold weekly office hours in high-traffic areas. He wants to increase CAPS' accessibility and visibility. He also wants to improve campus safety, increase on-campus programming and mandate that all students take two pass/fail courses outside their major in order to explore academic interests without risking their GPA.
Vitarelli is adamant about achieving results. He proposes putting a date on all DSG resolutions and giving the administration a timetable for responding to student initiatives because he feels it is necessary for administrators to provide rationale on decisions that directly effect students. He also thinks that resolutions should offer up potential solutions instead of simple criticisms, making it easier for compromises and changes to be made.
Pasha Majdi, although enthusiastic, lacks the overall scope and vision of Vitarelli. His platform is too narrow and issue-specific, and it fails to address a single academic issue other than the cost of used books.
There are, however, a few things that Vitarelli should do in order to become an even stronger candidate. Vitarelli must be careful to fully represent the students' interests and not fall victim to pressure from the administration. Also, in having such a broad vision, he has a tendency to focus too far into the future. He should make sure that he addresses issues that directly affect students today--an asset of Majdi's--and not those that will affect students in years to come.
Finally, he has said he will leave the issue of developing a residential quadrangle-based system on West Campus primarily to Campus Council. However, he clearly knows a great deal about the quad-based system and has a solid, well-defined argument against it. DSG, with Vitarelli as president, should tackle the quad-based system.
The Chronicle feels that Vitarelli has proven himself an effective, accomplished leader as president of Campus Council this year and has faith that he can do the same with DSG. The Chronicle formally endorses Anthony Vitarelli for DSG president.
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