Darrick Trent “Nighthawk” Evensen grad was re-elected as graduate student trustee in last week’s trustee election. Evensen defeated Chavez Carter grad with 1,288 votes to Carter’s 963 votes, according to final election results posted Monday by the Student Assembly.

The elections were held from Monday, April 16, through Wednesday, April 18.

Evan Cortens grad, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly said that Evensen’s previous experience as trustee will serve him well in his second term, which will last two years.

“He has the experience necessary to get things done in a job that is often about knowing who to speak to about what, Cortens wrote in an email. “His relationships with President Skorton, Vice President Murphy, Chairman Harrison, and so on, will, I'm certain, ensure that the student voice at Cornell is heard loud and clear.” 

Undergraduate trustee Alex Bores ’13 echoed Cortens’ optimism for Evensen’s term.

 “Darrick was incredibly helpful to me on the Board. I look forward to having him as a partner for another year,” Bores said in an email. “We have worked well on issues ranging from student access to the Board to Collegetown housing.” 

In Evensen’s previous term, he said he strove to improve both diversity on campus and students’ mental health.

“My work on the Trustee Task Force on Student, Faculty and Staff Diversity over the last two years has contributed to the administration’s decision to create and fill several new positions on campus that are directed toward increasing Cornell’s focus on catering to a diverse community,” Evensen said.

During his previous term as graduate student trustee, Evensen said he dedicated himself to improving gorge safety –– a commitment he plans to extend into his second term.

“I serve as one of two students … on the University Gorge Safety committee tasked with implementing the recommendations President Skorton has approved for improving gorge safety,” Evensen said.

He has also expressed support for restructuring the Greek system.

“Ever since my first Board of Trustees meeting in October 2010, I have voiced to trustees and senior administrators the importance of self-governance in the Greek system,” Evensen said.

In his next term, Evensen said he will use his established relationships with trustees and senior administrators to continue to improve communication between the Board of Trustees and students and to create a more environmentally sustainable campus.

“I will continue to work with the leadership of the Board of Trustees to integrate students into discussions and presentations at trustee meetings so that student perspectives can be heard on a wide range of issues,” Evensen said.

Evensen emphasized that he intends to collaborate with a variety of people on campus.

“Much of my work will not be pressing certain issues that I have identified are important, but rather, working to develop and then implement other great ideas that my trustee and administrator colleagues identify as part of our vision for Cornell,” Evensen said.