In a rare departure from the traditional selection process, four-not three-candidates were chosen as finalists for the undergraduate Young Trustee, the nominating committee announced Tuesday night.
Seniors Ben Abram, Chrissie Gorman, David Snider and Jimmy Soni were selected from the eight semifinalists chosen last week.
Sophomore Jordan Giordano, chair of the nominating committee and Duke Student Government vice president for community interaction, said an additional finalist was chosen because committee members were unable to choose three candidates by a three-fourths majority vote-a requirement under the Young Trustee bylaws.
"This has not happened in recent history," Giordano said. "The quality of candidates was very high."
Giordano said the unusual decision could in part be attributed to the number of applicants, which was higher than in recent years. Sixteen students applied to be the 2007 undergraduate Young Trustee, compared to 11 in last year's process, he said.
In the next round, each of the four finalists will be asked to give a speech to the four DSG subcommittees as well as to the InterCommunity Council. After their presentations, members of DSG and ICC will select the trustee in a Feb. 14 vote.
Giordano said the higher number of finalists would not change the process, unless a single candidate does not receive 50 percent or more of the vote. If this occurs, the candidate receiving the least number of votes will be removed, and another vote will be taken.
Abram, who is the senior class president of the Pratt School of Engineering and active in Duke Conversations, said it was most important that a Young Trustee "bring perspective to the board room" as an undergraduate.
Abram said he would focus on issues such as mentoring and multidisciplinary learning to help bridge perspectives in University discussions. Next year, he plans to work in development and infrastructure building at the non-profit level.
Snider-DSG vice president of athletics and campus services and vice president of external affairs for Delta Tau Delta fraternity-said a candidate should consider the role of Young Trustee with an open mind.
"It's very important that no one person approaches it with an agenda," he said. Snider, who has also served on a number of University committees, plans to work for Bain & Company in Boston after graduation.
The current president of the Panhellenic Association and an advisor to the Baldwin Scholars, Gorman said she has gained a unique experience in working for organizations that represent a large portion of undergraduate women. Like other finalists, however, she said it was important for a Young Trustee to represent the perspectives of all undergraduates, not just a particular demographic.
Gorman, who also founded Project XY and is a teaching assistant and research assistant in public policy, said she also plans to work at Bain & Company in Boston.
Soni is the current co-chair of the Undergraduate Judicial Board and DSG vice president for academic affairs. He has previously served as chair of the Honor Council and co-president of the Duke Political Union.
Soni said his diverse level of involvement and strong devotion to the University would be powerful benefits were he to be selected as Young Trustee. A recipient of the Mitchell Scholarship, Soni said he will pursue a master's degree in politics in Ireland upon graduation, before heading to Chicago to work for a consulting firm.
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