Jabs, laughs and heated responses filled the all-slate debate Monday night as Andrews-Albritton '08 and Campus Alliance tried to convince students why they would be the best slate to lead Student Government Association.
Like the Feb. 21 presidential vice-presidential debate, each slate was given two minutes to respond to a question. This debate, however, had a town hall approach that allowed for more open conversation between the two slates to allow them to set themselves apart from one another.
Andrews-Albritton '08 President Mike Andrews started the night by telling the approximately 75-person crowd that his slate was committed to not only representing the student body, but also about being approachable.
"Tonight is about the future, and tonight is about change," Andrews said.
Campus Alliance President Frank Hood said he understood there was talk around campus about change. He said the governance system would be gridlocked if there were no experience.
"[They] tout inexperience as being a fresh perspective, but we have that fresh perspective with two people who aren't in SGA," Hood said.
Both slates were asked questions about issues pertaining to off campus and on campus, their platforms, the greek system and administrator relations.
One question Campus Alliance was asked was how it would face administration about its platform issue to get rid of the writing competency exam.
Vice Presidential candidate Carrie Cozad said they would push whatever administration the slate needed to.
"If so many students say they want it waived, we will push whoever we need to, to get it taken care of," Cozad said.
Andrews said the exam was a good way to make sure skills freshmen learn are retained through their junior and senior years.
"From a student perspective it might be nice, but it's irresponsible of Ball State as an institution to get rid of the exam," he said. "Freshman year shouldn't be the last time students show they can write."
He said he knew some classes required students to write papers, but not all majors required as much writing as others.
Andrews-Albritton '08 was asked how it would accomplish one if its platform items and fill seats on numerous councils and committees.
Andrews said his slate would go to department heads and ask them to recommend students who would be committed to the job.
Hood said in the past, SGA has gone to department heads but was told it was not their place to recommend one student over another, and it should be up to the student body. Our slate would go to student organizations and get their input, he said.
Each slate also was asked what they would do to increase school spirit if elected.
Moses Jones, treasurer candidate for Campus Alliance, said they would like to sponsor a fan bus to non-conference away games.
Ebony Strong, secretarial candidate for Campus Alliance, said they also would like to have a pre-game rally before home games where students could enjoy food, entertainment and non-alcoholic drinks at a SGA booth.
Steven Albritton, vice presidential candidate for Andrews-Albritton '08, said seats at campus events should try and be filled before worrying about seats in a different location.
Andrews also said participation was a key in school pride.
"Participation in things equals pride," he said.
In closing arguments, each group had its last say in why it was the better slate.
Cory Schneider, secretarial candidate for Andrews-Albritton '08, said they were students first and their platform was about students first and foremost.
"We want to make Student Senate work for the students," he said.
Andrea Watts, treasurer candidate for Andrews-Albritton '08, said everything they wanted to do was for students to let their issues be known.
"We want to get students fired up about having a voice," she said.
Albritton said if students were told they could not do something it already made it a loss.
"It's about having change for not only us now, but for the future to make Ball State better for those who choose to come here," he said.
Strong said she and her slate members were diverse and were involved in more than 30 organizations to give them an understanding on what needed to be done to get issues accomplished.
"Our diversity gives us a repoire with the administration," she said.
Hood said he understood his platform was lofty and detailed oriented, but Campus Alliance's members were passionate about making change.
"We're the slate that knows how to get things done," he said.
Some students went into the debate not knowing who they would vote for, but at the end of the night they left with an idea on which slate would get their vote.
Senior political science major Peter Nelson said he had an idea, but he was not 100 percent sure. He did not say exactly who he was voting for, but he did think Campus Alliance was more prepared for the debate.
"They said things well and knew what they wanted to get done," he said.
Sophomore telecommunications major Kyrie Woolf said she did not know who did better because both had good points on different issues.
"I came because I had no idea who I am voting for, so I was hoping tonight would help," she said, "and it did."
VoteVoting begins 7:45 a.m. Wednesday and ends 6:45 p.m. Thursday
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