Conversations filled the air Tuesday night about which Ball State University Student Government Association slate would best serve SGA and the students. About 50 people scattered throughout the about 170-person lecture hall in the Art and Journalism Building.
Some attendees sported Campus Alliance T-shirts, others wore jeans, sweatshirts and various other T-shirts. All were there to listen to the presidential-vice presidential 2008 Ball State University Student Government Association debates.
At the flip of a coin, Campus Alliance President Frank Hood and Vice President Carrie Cozad responded first to questions about their slate and its platform. Andrews-Albritton '08 President Mike Andrews and Vice President Steven Albritton followed. After each question, the rebuttal slate answered the next question first.
Each slate had two minutes to answer. Some responses lasted three minutes for time to answer longer, more-in depth questions.
Below are some of the questions that were asked and a summary of the presidents' and vice presidents' responses:
Question 1: How can your slate show initiative when it didn't run the first time?
CA: The slate was supporting another group that intended to run for office, but that group decided not to run. Campus Alliance members decided because two had SGA experience and two had the drive to be in SGA, they would form a slate.
AA '08: The slate members have no experience, but when they saw nobody who was already in SGA wanted to run, they were shocked. The slate has a diverse group of people who have connections throughout the university and are qualified for the job.
Question 2: What makes your slate a better choice for students?
AA '08: The slate has realistic goals for changes on campus with a different approach. These items would set them apart from the other slate. The slate also hoped to bring other students such as athletes into SGA so more students have a voice.
CA: The biggest problem in SGA is when a new slate takes over, there are issues on who does what and what is supposed to happen next. The slate knows how everything works so that will not be a problem, whereas the other slate does not.
Question 3: If there was only one item you could complete, what is that one thing?
CA: The slate would bring back staff and funding to the Multicultural Center. Ball State cuts funding to the center despite the university making diversity a priority in its strategic plan.
AA '08: Instead of finding funding for one group, the slate wants to provide funding for all groups and disperse it fairly.
Question 4: How does your platform affect the Muncie community?
AA '08: The slate is well-rounded and would try to bring Muncie residents to campus and get them involved in campus activities. This would allow them to see what students offer, and the slate hopes it would interest students in giving back to the Muncie community. The slate also would work on getting the Late Loop to run downtown again so more students could visit places there.
CA: One of the slate's platform items is to work with the city to repair and improve roads and sidewalks near campus. This would not only help students, but also it would help Muncie residents. The slate also wants to create a universitywide philanthropy where the money could go to places in the Muncie community.
Question 5: Your platform mentions increasing student fees $10 a year. How are you sure the general student population would be OK with the increase and who would you talk to to get this implemented?
CA: Emens does not have the money to book big names. The slate would work with Business Affairs, Jo Ann Gora and the provost to find out what could be done to increase funding so legislation could be written and sent through the university governance system.
AA '08: The slate agrees with Campus Alliance, but it was not fair or wise to spend money on a big name when about half the students could view it if it were in the largest venue on campus. Instead, the money should be spent on making buses run more, bringing more resources to campus and other things students could use.Hood rebutted by saying the entertainment could be outside so all students could enjoy it. He also said a focus group could be created to bring someone all students would like.
Question 6: Your platform mentions having a point system for meal plans. How would you make this so it would not cost money and how would you achieve it?
AA '08: The slate learned the meal plans would stay as they are next year, but it contacted Indiana University about how it implements its point system. The slate said Dining receives about $6 million in revenue and Ball State could use that money to create software to make a point system.
CA: The slate said it researched the meal plan issue a few years ago and learned that to have a point system students would have to pay $3,000 to $4,000 more a year. The slate said IU has the point system because it has higher tuition to pay for it. The slate also said the $6 million was being used to remodel and fix other campus dining locations.Andrews rebutted by saying if Ball State was using that extra money to remodel it should be straightforward with students about how the money was being spent.
Question 7: One of U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative's platform items was creating a Multicultural Council. What will you do to expand or improve it?
CA: The slate said it would do nothing because the council is working to expand itself. The slate would not try to improve the council, but it would try to improve multiculturalism in general and have a student forum about multiculturalism topics.
AA '08: The slate said it thought the forum also was a good idea but it wondered what came after that. The slate would like to have more co-sponsorship and have various groups work together.
Question 8: How will you use SGA's $80,000 budget and how much would you allot to co-sponsorship?
AA '08: The slate would put more money toward co-sponsorship. The slate said it would increase the co-sponsorship budget to $20,000.
CA: The slate also wanted to have more money toward co-sponsorship. The slate said it also wanted to create an organizational spotlight in the Daily News, but it would help pay for the costs, and it wants to have an SGA "tailgating" booth where it would provide food for students before football games. The slate also would increase the co-sponsorship budget to $20,000.
Question 9: Another platform item is having the university provide health benefits for Graduate Assistants. How will you get money for this and make this goal happen?
CA: The slate would speak with the people in charge of benefits. The slate said Ball State will save money by going partially smoke-free, and maybe some of that money could go toward the benefits.
AA '08: The slate said Graduate Assistants already have the same health options as undergraduate students. Instead of giving them partial coverage, the slate said, the university should either waive the fees or keep the policy that is in place now.
Question 10: What is SGA's role in the university and how does it work and differ from University Senate?
AA '08: The slate said SGA was the students' voice and it has been going through the bylaws. The slate would work with students and be a forum to take the issues to administrators. University Senate mainly consists of faculty, and after legislation is through Student Senate it is a statement of student support University Senate can take into consideration.
CA: The slate said SGA was the voice of the students and connects administrators with students to facilitate change. An idea goes to SGA and that idea is put into legislation. When SGA passes the legislation the President Pro-Tempore sends it to Agenda Committee, which then sends it to University Senate. If University Senate passes the legislation, it goes to the Board of Trustees.
Question 11: How are you individually a better candidate?
CA: Hood said he has a passion for politics, has knowledge of Senate, is approachable and is a hard worker. Cozad said she has had the opportunity to be leaders of organizations, is personable and has SGA experience.
AA '08: Andrews said he has been at Ball State for almost three years now and has seen how some ideas have worked and how others have not. He said he has experience with various organizations. Although he has no SGA experience, he said, he has the experience, drive and determination in other areas. Albritton said he has done various things and provides different angles that SGA has not had in a long time.
Question 12: How is your slate diverse?
AA '08: The slate said it has different majors, men and women, and different races, backgrounds, experiences and opportunities they seek in life.
CA: The slate has six majors between the four members, between the four they have experience in about 30 organizations and two are in SGA and two are not. The slate said some are from broken homes and others are not, and some are more religious than others.
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