2008 Woodie Awards
Candidates face off in first SGA debate
Marissa Lang
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News
SGA presidential hopefuls faced questions on their clout with administrators and ties to the school's surrounding community in an unorthodox debate last night that forced candidates to confront issues outside their platforms.
Community Roots, a student organization that helps mobilize under-represented groups at the university, sponsored the low-key debate held in a Tydings classroom. The 50 students who attended - most from either Community Roots or the Student Government Association - sat in a circle and took turns shouting out questions.
With two more debates left before the election, Community Roots Co-President Kyle Carson focused the debate on questioning the SGA's effectiveness.
"I've seen SGA work and be ignored," said Carson, a senior mechanical engineering major who used to serve on the SGA. "Legislation doesn't pull that much weight unless it's convenient for the university. What tactics will you use to make them listen?"
The candidates hesitated on the question before House Party candidate Mardy Shualy took the first stab.
"The administration will ignore students until they can't anymore," Shualy said. "The demands we make must be public and painful."
He promised to keep students informed on campus issues, suggesting that if they're in the know, they'll be easier to mobilize. He said he wouldn't shy from rallies and protests.
Independent candidate Dan Leydorf and Students Party candidate Jonathan Sachs both agreed the SGA should strategically choose which issues to address and keep students involved through student groups.
"We are going to need to pick our battles," Sachs said. "But we will hold student forums to help us decide what battles to pick."
One such battle the SGA should be addressing is community outreach, said senior history major Daniel Lewkowicz.
"I'm from New York, and what I've seen as an attempt to solve community problems is Columbia [University] buying out Harlem - that bothers me," Lewkowicz said. "How can we use our resources to solve problems in the community around us?"
Community Roots, a student organization that helps mobilize under-represented groups at the university, sponsored the low-key debate held in a Tydings classroom. The 50 students who attended - most from either Community Roots or the Student Government Association - sat in a circle and took turns shouting out questions.
With two more debates left before the election, Community Roots Co-President Kyle Carson focused the debate on questioning the SGA's effectiveness.
"I've seen SGA work and be ignored," said Carson, a senior mechanical engineering major who used to serve on the SGA. "Legislation doesn't pull that much weight unless it's convenient for the university. What tactics will you use to make them listen?"
The candidates hesitated on the question before House Party candidate Mardy Shualy took the first stab.
"The administration will ignore students until they can't anymore," Shualy said. "The demands we make must be public and painful."
He promised to keep students informed on campus issues, suggesting that if they're in the know, they'll be easier to mobilize. He said he wouldn't shy from rallies and protests.
Independent candidate Dan Leydorf and Students Party candidate Jonathan Sachs both agreed the SGA should strategically choose which issues to address and keep students involved through student groups.
"We are going to need to pick our battles," Sachs said. "But we will hold student forums to help us decide what battles to pick."
One such battle the SGA should be addressing is community outreach, said senior history major Daniel Lewkowicz.
"I'm from New York, and what I've seen as an attempt to solve community problems is Columbia [University] buying out Harlem - that bothers me," Lewkowicz said. "How can we use our resources to solve problems in the community around us?"
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