The Ball State University Debate Team drilled Student Connection on its platform at last night's open forum.
The debate team prepared for the forum by researching the slate's platform on its Web site and formulated questions pertaining to platform points and the slate's future plans.
"It was more going to be what they were going to say tonight and playing off of what we hear," senior debate team member Lauren Harper said.
A major point of concern was the pending budget cuts affecting Ball State.
Student Connection made a clear statement that student organizations will not take a hit in the upcoming budget cuts. Cuts in the budget will come from the operational budget, ensuring the cuts will not affect student organizations that are funded by tuition money.
Another major question posed to Student Connection was how it planned to make various connections with the Muncie area, students, resident halls and multicultural organizations as promised in its platform.
The slate wants to push through leadership programs for high school students and contests for elementary and junior high school students as a means to connect with the local community. As for Ball State, the slate hopes to create a campuswide philanthropy to help students connect with their governing body and each other.
The slate will have the opportunity to make a connection with the student population during the open campaign season.
"They are going to be able to run and campaign up until next Wednesday the 24th," Cory Schneider, Elections Board chairman, said.
Student Connection will present its platform to the student senate Feb. 24. At that time, the senate will vote whether to elect the slate. To become the next student governing body, Student Connection will need two-thirds of the senate's vote.
"They will talk about their platform and then the senators will be able to ask as many questions as they like. They will leave the room, we will do a secret ballot and we will see if they are going to be our next SGA slate," Schneider said.
If Student Connection does not receive the two-thirds vote the nomination process will begin again.
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