Tonight, all four members of each SGA slate had the chance to defend their platforms with answers to questions from SGA members, students and Ball State staff.
The debate, moderated by Payne Horning, mostly centered on research completed by each slate on the feasibility of platform points.
Here is a breakdown of the questions asked and a brief description of the answer given:
Opening statements:
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey: “We are four very qualified people and we feel like we represent every person. We have researched our platform and worked with administrators to know that this is possible.”
Empower
Wade: “We truly believe our platform is students for students because we have gone out to talk to our constituents. Three-fourths of our slate are leadership study minors, so we believe we are servant leaders.”
What united your slate [and] what common issues brought you together?
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said he envisioned the slate and approached Rahissa Engle first because of the Excellence in Leadership platform points and the food pantry point, which brought the slate together.
Empower
Wade said this slate met in a leadership studies minor class.
“We don’t want to sit up here as an executive slate and do what we want to do, we want to do what the students are looking for,” he said.
Elections code cut campaigning from three weeks to two weeks. In the past week, what have you learned while campaigning and have you changed your platform?
Cardinal Connection
Hendershot said the slate has been opened up to Greek Life this week and wants to work with Greek Life more in the future.
Empower
Bunn said the slate asks every student organization at the end of the visit what they would like to see and students often bring items that “aren’t really feasible” for SGA, such as fresh fruit in dining. Her slate, however, said they won’t give up and are still looking into these issues.
What administrators have you talked to?
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said for the library, the slate has spoken with Arthur Hafner, dean of the university libraries, and he said he wants to work with the group. The slate has talked to Lauren Berger, assistant director of Student Life as well as the Multicultural Center for the NOH8 campaign.
Horning said he spoke with library dean to ask about feasibility. Horning said he didn’t think that would be possible. Hafner cited concerns regarding shuttle buses, time for cleaning and staffing.
Wilkey said the first step needs to be Charlie’s Charter to shuttle students out. He talked about volunteer hours and closing floors as possible options.
Empower
Wade said the slate has been in talks with Sue Weller, director of facilities, business services and transportation, about extending shuttle buses. The slate decided against the library option because it is not a feasible option.
Bunn said midterms and finals can determine students’ GPAs and should be made a priority.
Jennifer Jones-Hall, assistant vice president for student affairs: How would you work with administration, specifically myself, when we tell you that platform points cannot be accomplished?
Cardinal Connection
Engle said students may not realize it, but administrators have students’ best interests at heart and SGA can serve as the liaison between administration and students.
Empower
Wade said sometimes, what the students want is not feasible and administrators are there for a reason.
Twitter: What does diversity mean to your slate?
Cardinal Connection
Hendershot talked about working with the NOH8 campaign.
Empower
Saum related diversity to sensitivity of leadership.
Horning: How does Empower’s proposed diversity councils differ from already existing Multicultural Center?
Empower
Saum said it’s about strengthening the relationship with the Multicultural Center. The slate wants to promote emerging leaders to get involved with the center.
Town Hall question: It is difficult to have a strong presence during recruitment. How do you want to work with Greek Life and others for recruitment?
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said Greek Life would have access to the emerging leaders retreat, which would give them access for recruitment.
Empower
Bunn said fraternities and sororities can learn from how SGA campaigns with the barriers that exist in residence halls.
Horning: What promises in relation to your platform, Empower, are you willing to make?
Bunn said her slate can promise they are trained leaders because of their leadership minors and service to student body will come first. They promise to make every student’s voice heard.
Horning: In regards to diversity, Cardinal Connection, what issues were you referring to in your debate?
Hendershot: “I was referencing the image displayed in [the Ball Communication Building.]”
Berger, also director of Excellence in Leadership: Why do you think an emerging leader’s retreat is important?
Empower
Saum said as an emerging leader, he said he realized they have to be servant leaders to serve the community first.
Saum said he has been a part of the Ball State community for five years and his journey has blossomed with leadership studies minor and work as a Camp Yale intern.
Cardinal Connection
Staples said he was discouraged in his journey as a leader when he didn’t know what his resources were until he reached out to others.
“I’ve learned that you can’t just say what you want to do, you have to show it and do it,” he said.
Horning: Cardinal Connection, address “update environment of Bracken Library.”
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said he got the idea from the dean of the library, and it involves bringing in more organizations to artwork on the walls and showcasing success.
Horning: Empower, how can you ensure Countdown to Kickoff won’t fizzle out?
Empower
Bunn said traditions set universities apart from others.
“It’s got to be a grassroots thing, and we have to take ownership of that,” she said.
Twitter: Did any of you attend the diversity discussion hosted by the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, and did it affect your platform?
No one on either slate attended.
Unified Media: How will you make sure everyone represents your slate well while in office?
Cardinal Connection
Staples encouraged leaders to push themselves and others to excellence through social media.
Empower
Kimani said her slate holds each other accountable to mistakes they make and to motivate each other.
Unified Media: Cardinal Connection, food pantry, how can you make this successful?
Cardinal Connection
Engle said IUPUI has a food pantry and they think it is possible.
“Yes, it will be difficult but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it,” she said.
Wilkey said they would not be going through dining for this initiative. Second Harvest Food Bank would administer the food bank, and people in SGA and Ball State community would provide man power.
Unified Media: To Empower, what do you think SGA is lacking in relationship between student body and SGA?
Empower
Bunn: “When you empower someone, it’s like a pyramid scheme in a good way. All of a sudden, you have a booming SGA representing all parts of campus.”
Unified Media: What have you learned from SPARK slate?
Cardinal Connection
Hendershot said she thinks the current executive board has done a great job of tapping into Ball State traditions like C2K and Benny’s Birthday Bash. Cardinal Connection wants to go back to old T-shirt trade-in rules.
Empower
Wade said she loved the spaghetti dinners and wants to take that further by inviting students into her office and to office hours.
Jack Hesser, SGA president pro tempore: What sets you apart from past slates Alliance and SPARK?
Empower
Saum said the slate thinks it is made of servant leaders and can do things behind the scenes.
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said current President Chloe Anagnos inspired him, but the slate represents all of campus more than the past executive boards have represented parts of campus.
Austin Acel: As a resident assistant, I was never aware of spaghetti dinners. How will you make students aware?
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said he will write a report in emails sent to all students every month and take an event out to campus every month.
Empower
Bunn said utilizing SGA’s Facebook and Twitter handle will be a great benefit.
“It’s the best way to reach this generation,” she said.
Kent Holmes, a former senator and current RA: How will you keep the newly elected buzz going?
Empower
Bunn said the perfect example of a buzz is through social media. Posting something on social media is more important than sending out a monthly report.
Cardinal Connection
Staples said the slate wants to have a physical presence on campus with a monthly Cardinal Connection program.
Horning: How do you make sure student Senate is effective?
Cardinal Connection
Hendershot said as vice president, she will lead SGA Senate. She said she wants to make sure senators with strong voices encourage those who do not have strong voices.
Empower
Bunn said she would also be president of the Senate.
“I have not authored my own legislation, but I have sponsored many pieces of legislation,” she said.
She said she has the resources to help senators.
Horning: New president, what will your slate do to make sure new president understands role and impact?
Empower
Saum said the group can lead by example through servant leadership.
Wade said Empower would remind the new president that SGA is the voice of the students, so they need to take the slate seriously.
Cardinal Connection
Engle said a relationship with Kay Bales, vice president for student affairs, is important.
Wilkey said he would emphasize that the organization is the voice of the students and explain that the slate was elected by students.
Acel: What is an underrated organization on campus?
Empower
Wade: “Honestly, not enough students know about SGA.”
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey: “Urban Gamers League. They do no get money from university, but they are a large organization. Let’s work with them. They are looked down on.”
How will you promote safety?
Cardinal Connection
Engle said the slate needs to work on communication between what administration is doing and how students can assist them in their job. Engle mentioned adding a student perspective to the crisis management team.
Danica Craig, Panhellenic Council president: How do you want SGA to collaborate with Greek Life?
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said greek organizations can volunteer at the slate’s food pantry.
Empower
Bunn said they should let greek chapters be aware of how SGA can be open to more co-sponsorship.
Horning: How does emerging leaders retreat idea differ?
Empower
Bunn: “We would like it to be open to more than freshmen.”
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey: “It is on both of our platforms to have an emerging leaders retreat.”
Empower
Bunn: “We haven’t worked out any details, but with either slate that wins, it can only be a good thing.”
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said he told Wade about the platform point.
Empower
Wade: “It isn’t about who came up with it first. It’s great that both slates find leadership so important.”
Kyle Pierce, student on the Board of Trustees: What is your weakest platform point and the other slate’s strongest?
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said the food pantry is the weakest because of the amount of work involved. He said Empower’s point on Frog Baby scholarship is its strongest.
Empower
Wade said safety is the weakest point because everyone on campus does not think it is feasible, but the slate would work on it. She said Cardinal Connection’s strongest platform point is the leadership aspect, emerging leaders retreat.
Berger said Wilkey is correct. She spoke with him in November about the emerging leaders retreat, and she also spoke to Wade about it. While she said the slates haven’t followed up with her on the point, but “I wouldn’t expect that.”
Acel: Cardinal Connection’s platform point about spotlighting leaders already exists through National Residence Hall Honorary, it’s called Spotlighting Leaders.
Cardinal Connection
Wilkey said he thinks there are more leaders each month on campus.
Hesser: Who is your favorite member of executive board?
Bunn: Jack Hesser
Wade: Giang Tran
Kimani: Giang Tran
Saum: Giang Tran
Staples: Chloe Anagnos
Engle: Jack Hesser
Hendershot: Jack Hesser
Wilkey: Kevin Mullaney
Audience member: What do you mean about international students [in Empower’s platform points]? [Shively and Studebaker East Hall] staff our building 365 days a year and other buildings do not.
Empower
Wade said the slate didn’t think about breaks, and it isn’t feasible to move them into other dorms “but there are other ways.”
Audience member: Some students are not in leadership roles and are intimidated by that, and how will you involve the average student?
Cardinal Connection
Staples: “We don’t want to limit ourselves. You can be a leader either way.”
Empower
Bunn said the slate is diverse and the members’ life experiences makes them relatable.
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