Candidates answer SGA members’ concerns following debates

The Daily News

Student Government Association senators asked questions to executive board slates about points they felt were unclear after the two debates earlier this week.

Slates first gave their opening addresses, informing those they are hoping to work with about their proposed actions.

Spark reiterated their five-point plan: safety, pride, academics, relationships and community.

Spark presidential candidate Malachi Randolph was asked to defend his time management skills given the fact that he was removed from SGA previously because of his inability to adhere to the attendance policy, something that was brought up in the vice-presidential debate Tuesday. 

“It isn’t time management when you have a class during Senate,” Randolph said. “It just works like that sometimes.” 

Fusion introduced the three actions they most hope to make if elected: upgrade the wireless capability, bring more attention to Dance Marathon and recruit members for smaller organizations.

Kylie Marcus, Fusion secretary candidate, was asked why Fusion is focusing on Dance Marathon specifically instead of all small organizations. 

Marcus said she is a serving member on the Dance Marathon board.

“Dance Marathon is the biggest money maker for philanthropies,” Marcus said. “There is no other organization that makes that much money in one event and that is why we want to be so supportive of that.”   

Cardinal United opted instead of having an open statement to begin answering questions fielded by Senate. 

Brandon Pope, Cardinal United’s treasurer candidate, was asked if he knew the first rule of accounting, and he admitted he did not. 

“I am not a finance teacher,” Pope said. “When it comes to speaking with organizations and understanding their needs, being president of a small organization I know their needs.”

Serving alcohol at sporting events was another topic discussed at the meeting.

During Tuesday’s debate, a senator mentioned Fusion had received support from Jennifer Jones-Hall, assistant vice president of student affairs,  of their effort to have alcohol at Ball State games, although she had recently publically stated she did not.

Nick Wilkey, Fusion vice-president candidate, said “I did talk to her, I don’t know why she came out and said she was against it. But we had a 15-minute conversation where she gave us the nod.

Not every question was meant to spotlight specific supposed flaws in the slates; others were simply meant to question the members of the slate about their ability to do the job they are vying for. 

Randolph, of Spark, said he believes the best way to maintain the line of communication between the executive board and senate is to keep the connection informal.

“We should be in the know already,” Randolph said. “We should already have personal relationships, personal relationships with each of you.”

The final question that was posed to each slate was one that may sound odd, “Why did you chose the colors you did for your slate?”

Pope, of Cardinal United, said he chose purple because it symbolized unity.

“When you look at the U.S. Congress, a purple item [is] a bipartisan agreement, red and blue together,” Pope said. “People coming together for a common purpose, I believe is a magical thing.”

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