Sophomore biomedical engineering major Jesse Longoria is not your typical introverted engineer.
A native of Germantown, Tenn., Longoria has served as president of his freshman dormitory and president of the sophomore class. Now he is the sole candidate for vice president for campus services and athletics in the March 30 Duke Student Government executive elections.
Longoria was elected as an at-large candidate at the beginning of the spring semester, and said he ran for the position to experience the organization for himself.
"The only thing I knew about DSG was what I read in the paper--a lot of times it's not very good," he explained. "Instead of having other people's opinions be my opinion, [I wanted] to make an opinion for myself."
A current member of the facilities and athletics committee--which with this election season is changing into the campus services and athletics committee--Longoria said his overall goal for the committee will be to improve communication between DSG and the student body, an action the committee could most effectively complete.
"Facilities and athletics, as opposed to the other vice presidents' [roles], has a responsibility to keep up the communication with the student groups," Longoria said. "I feel like a lot of student groups resent what DSG is doing because they aren't involved in it at all."
Longoria said his specific plans for CS&A consist of continuing attention to on-campus safety, refocusing the committee's attention on athletics and garnering student opinion concerning the future of central campus. He also noted the recently approved restructuring of the committee, which will expand to include oversight of the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee.
Citing current Vice President of Facilities and Athletics Alexander Niejelow's commitment to safety during his tenure, Longoria said he would continue expanding safety initiatives. He pointed specifically to the need for card readers on all dormitory bathroom doors and blue zone security. While Longoria said campus security was vital, he added that he wanted to avoid going too far.
"Safety is a touchy issue--as you make the campus more safe, you run the risk of imposing a lot of rules on students," Longoria said. "That's another thing where communication comes in; we have to decide as a University, where is the line?"
While Longoria emphasized the importance of safety in his plans, he also pointed to the need to return the committee's attention to athletics. One project he said was particularly important was calling for the renovation of East Campus athletic facilities.
The "little things" about student life are also on Longoria's mind, including adding a computer cluster in the Bryan Center and subsidizing salt for icy sidewalks during the winter.
As a senator, Longoria has played an active role on the facilities and athletics committee, working closely with Niejelow on issues such as Central Campus planning, the West Campus Student Center, the Perkins Library renovation and improving lighting on campus. Niejelow noted Longoria's inexperience within DSG, but said his enthusiasm would be an asset to his leadership.
"He's still very new to the committee and that will be a challenge for him," said Niejelow. "Jesse is definitely growing in his leadership experience. I think Jesse--because he is excited and energetic and in tune with the student body--will accomplish a lot of the goals I have not been able to finish and new goals that he comes up with."
Head Line Monitor Donald Wine, who worked with Longoria during the past basketball season, praised his balanced leadership persona.
"He's a very had worker," Wine said. "He's very passionate [and] on top of things. He can be friendly, but at the same time he knows what to do when he needs to get his point across."
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