Interviewing this fellow made me realize how far he’s come. I first met him in high school, can you believe that? And you know you always got this feeling, that a person will be great someday? All of us thought great things about this kid. He’s nice, imponent, but most of all, he’s a selfless man who wants to do what’s right for our University. It’s not easy participating in the Academic Senate, all while being a Law School Student. With this being said, it has been great honor knowing you for all these years. There is more to come to your path. Meet this week’s Campus Profile.
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Name: Gilberto DomĂnguez Escalera
Age: 24
Major: Juris Doctor
Classification: 2L
Hometown: San Juan
Relationship Status: In a relationship
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- HCUPR: Tell us about yourself:
Well, first off I’d like to say that I am or try to be a humble person. I like to be involved in multiple efforts where the goal is to achieve the greater good. I’m passionate about my job and all the different efforts I’ve taken on during my stay at the General Student Council (GSC). Coming from a low-middle class family, I learned to appreciate the things I have, while also learning to share with those that have less than me. I completed my undergrad studies at the University of Puerto Rico Carolina campus. During this time, I got involved in various student initiatives such as the Association of Criminal Justice Students and the GSC.
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- HCUPR: How did you start working in the Academic Senate?
It all started back at UPR Carolina’s GSC around 2012-2013. I entered the GSC with hopes to become an academic senator right from the beginning. However, the first position I was selected for was actually Press Secretary. A short time after, the position for student academic senator at large became available and my peers selected me for the position. I revalidated for a second term in the general elections and carried out my duties until I finally graduated.
Upon being accepted in Law School back in 2014, I was so lucky as to notice that the position for student academic senator for the Law School was vacant. I had to go through a tough interview with the members of the past Law School Student Council (LSSC). The toughest question they posed was if I was really ready to take on the duties of academic senator as a first year law school student (which is said to be the “make it or break it” year). I’m glad to say that I was elected and carried out a satisfactory job both on my classes and my position.
From there I aspired to, and became, the Student Representative on the University Board for the RĂo Piedras precint, which is the position I hold today. That makes me an ex-officio member of the Academic Senate.
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- HCUPR: What are your goals for the future?
As far as academic and professional goals go, I’d like to graduate in the next two years and get involved more in depth in assessing the Legislative Assembly or any Executive Government branch. I like to think that public service is something which requires very much dedication and I think I’d be good at it.
As for student leadership goals, I’ve been considering my future steps on this road. Certainly, I know that I won’t be here forever, nor do I intend to. So any other position I assume will be very carefully thought out and will count with 100% of my dedication.
- HCUPR: As a student, what would you do to make a difference with everything that is going on around campus?
You know, sometimes I think we get bogged down in working with more bureaucratic matters, instead of focusing on student issues that have the same or even more importance. I accept my share of the guilt on that front, and trust that, with the time I still have at my disposal I’ll do something about it.
I’d really like to work on something for the students that are having a hard time as far as finances go. We have students that go without eating for days, students that don’t have a roof over their heads, and even students that don’t have the necessary income to sustain a college enrollment. It’ll take time, but I’m confident that we can come up with something to stop this from happening.
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- HCUPR: What motivated you to pursue what you’re doing in the university?
I couldn’t really pin it on one thing. If I had to, I’d say that watching real issues go unresolved for long periods of time had the most to do with it. How is it that we became so easily accustomed to jumping through hoops to get some procedure done? I think that settling for what we have isn’t necessarily the best course in most instances. If I can be an agent of change, however small, I’ll take it.
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- HCUPR: Role Model and why?
This is a big question. I think I am comfortable saying that Chief Justice José Trias Monge✝ is a big role model for me. What he did for constructing the early basis of the jurisprudence of our country is sincerely admirable. His legacy lasts, even today, both in the judicial field and in philanthropic matters.
- HCUPR: Biggest achievement?
My biggest achievement this past year has definitely been passing the amendments to Chapter VI of the General Student Bylaw to make the disciplinary process for all students a formative one instead of a punitive one. This is an effort that started back in 2009 and has taken a lot of time until it was finally approved this year. Now the process will be less one-sided than it has been up until now.
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- HCUPR: If you could do anything without getting caught what would it be? Why?
I don’t know that many things that I’d want to do which would involve not getting caught, but I’d love to go on a trip with my girlfriend, maybe to Europe, without telling anybody and just relax.
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- HCUPR: President for a day, what would you do?
Search for ways and means to make college free.Â
- HCUPR: Favorite quote?
“Tenemos en nuestra mano el tesoro inmenso de una semilla. Según la sembremos y la amparemos será la cosecha que ahora y en el futuro recojan las gentes que habitan y que entonces habiten esta tierra de Puerto Rico”. LMM
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11. Â HCUPR: Describe yourself in 3 words:
Hardworking, focused, and dedicated.