With a new academic year comes a new Duke Student Government president, who is often referred to as Duke’s student body president. The Chronicle’s Anna Koelsch talked to DSG President Pete Schork, a senior, about his predictions and plans for the coming year as well as his advice for freshmen.
The Chronicle: How would you explain Duke Student Government to students who either don’t know much about it or have the wrong idea about what it does?
Pete Schork: I’d say DSG is first and foremost a government simulation, with a Senate and bylaws and stuff like that. With that, it provides a great opportunity to build leadership skills and practical skills of public speaking and negotiation that will be with you for a lifetime. More importantly, DSG is a student advocacy organization. People who devote years to DSG don’t just show up to Wednesday Senate meetings to debate but also really enjoy collaborating with administrators to improve our student experience. It’s a fantastic way to leave a legacy and shape the future of student life here. That’s what has kept me with it.
TC: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing Duke in the next year?
PS: I think the biggest thing next year from the undergrad perspective will be University follow-through with ongoing efforts to build a better infrastructure for on-campus community. This will entail getting broad student input in the design for the renovation of West Union and the implementation of the new house model. These changes—and especially the house model—will be much more solidified by the end of the year, and it is my hope that DSG can play a major role in providing balanced student input on these projects.
TC: How do you think DSG has changed over the past three years?
PS: One of the things that is interesting about DSG is that it’s a different animal under every administration. Overall though, I think that the organization is now more organized and more dedicated towards making an impact. My freshman year, people took the meetings very seriously but didn’t take their lobbying work very seriously. Mike [Lefevre, former DSG President and Trinity ’11] and other recent leaders really helped us move toward being a more passionate advocacy organization. I’m optimistic about the upcoming year because everyone on our team is really imbued with this dedicated mindset, and I can tell we’re ready to hit the ground running from day one.
TC: Do you have any advice for incoming freshmen?
PS: You’re going to be overwhelmed, but you should try to embrace that as much as possible. Freshman year is a time to explore every extracurricular option that you could be interested in. Duke has over 400 student groups, and if you don’t find something like you within that, we have a really strong supportive entrepreneurial culture for you to create your own group. When you arrive you should cast a wide net as far as joining groups—that’s how you’ll discover something you’re passionate about.
TC: Are there any classes you recommend?
PS: I really liked the Service Opportunities in Leadership program. The classes are Border Crossing and Adaptive Leadership with Alma Blount. That was my favorite course experience, but as you will learn if you participate, it is an experience that goes much deeper than the classroom.
TC: What eateries or restaurants do you recommend for freshmen?
PS: I’m biased—I love Cosmic [Cantina] and hole-in-the-wall places. I’d encourage freshmen to try something a little different and explore Durham. It’s easier now to feel like a resident of Durham as a Duke student than ever before. I’d encourage freshmen to explore eateries downtown, where they might not normally go until they’re an upperclassman. Especially if they’re from the Northeast like me, I think they’ll find that food is cheaper and generally more varied.
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