2008 Woodie Awards
YouTube forum lacks student questions
Marissa Lang
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
The SGA is looking to bring its presidential elections into the 21st century this year, adding a YouTube feature to the candidates' debate tonight.
Trouble is, most students don't seem to be joining them.
Taking a page from the CNN presidential debate, the Student Government Association has been asking students to submit YouTube videos with questions for the candidates during the past week.
As of last night, though, only one video was posted on the SGA's YouTube site - SGA President Andrew Friedson sitting on a couch asking students to submit their videos.
"Hi, I'm SGA President Andrew Friedson the student body president, and in four short weeks I will no longer have that title," he says. In the clip, he urges students to submit video questions to ensure that the candidates are "answering the questions you care about."
While no students have submitted questions yet, SGA Elections Board member Sam Pinkava - who is credited for getting the YouTube site up and running, said he has high hopes for participation as the debates approach tonight.
"Lots of kids use YouTube," Pinkava said. "And several people have told me they would [submit questions] if they could."
A lack of enthusiasm, however, may not be the problem. Most students interviewed for this story said the new YouTube question format was news to them.
"I never heard of that," said Zach Howe, a freshman computer science major. "But that's really cool."
Pinkava said the SGA is also hoping the YouTube aspect will add some entertainment value to the event tonight.
"We will show the most relevant first," he said. "But we do hope students submit creative videos."
That is still a possibility. Some students were struck with sudden inspiration to ask the candidates unusual questions after a reporter told them about the opportunity to submit clips.
"Can I ask [the candidates] what their favorite bar is?" asked freshman English major K.J. Stevens. "Then I'll do it!"
Although many students said they would not submit videos of their own, they do have questions.
"I want to know how they're going to handle the housing crunch," said junior physiology and neurobiology major Grace Ji, "and what authority they really have to address tuition."
Some students were less than impressed by the YouTube addition to the election, saying that by adding technology, humanity was being sacrificed.
"It'd rather talk to the candidate in person," said freshman sociology major Amy Butler. "This just seems so impersonal."
The SGA will be taking submissions until 6 p.m. today, Pinkava said. All submissions can be sent by visiting www.youtube.com/sgadebate2008.
langdbk@gmail.com
Trouble is, most students don't seem to be joining them.
Taking a page from the CNN presidential debate, the Student Government Association has been asking students to submit YouTube videos with questions for the candidates during the past week.
As of last night, though, only one video was posted on the SGA's YouTube site - SGA President Andrew Friedson sitting on a couch asking students to submit their videos.
"Hi, I'm SGA President Andrew Friedson the student body president, and in four short weeks I will no longer have that title," he says. In the clip, he urges students to submit video questions to ensure that the candidates are "answering the questions you care about."
While no students have submitted questions yet, SGA Elections Board member Sam Pinkava - who is credited for getting the YouTube site up and running, said he has high hopes for participation as the debates approach tonight.
"Lots of kids use YouTube," Pinkava said. "And several people have told me they would [submit questions] if they could."
A lack of enthusiasm, however, may not be the problem. Most students interviewed for this story said the new YouTube question format was news to them.
"I never heard of that," said Zach Howe, a freshman computer science major. "But that's really cool."
Pinkava said the SGA is also hoping the YouTube aspect will add some entertainment value to the event tonight.
"We will show the most relevant first," he said. "But we do hope students submit creative videos."
That is still a possibility. Some students were struck with sudden inspiration to ask the candidates unusual questions after a reporter told them about the opportunity to submit clips.
"Can I ask [the candidates] what their favorite bar is?" asked freshman English major K.J. Stevens. "Then I'll do it!"
Although many students said they would not submit videos of their own, they do have questions.
"I want to know how they're going to handle the housing crunch," said junior physiology and neurobiology major Grace Ji, "and what authority they really have to address tuition."
Some students were less than impressed by the YouTube addition to the election, saying that by adding technology, humanity was being sacrificed.
"It'd rather talk to the candidate in person," said freshman sociology major Amy Butler. "This just seems so impersonal."
The SGA will be taking submissions until 6 p.m. today, Pinkava said. All submissions can be sent by visiting www.youtube.com/sgadebate2008.
langdbk@gmail.com
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student
posted 4/10/08 @ 12:55 PM EST
there is one question posted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye_M1B7mjgc ... but how ru supposed to post more?
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