The future leadership of Student Government was on trial during the SG Student Media Debate Tuesday evening. Candidates for student chief justice, student body vice president and student body president discussed their concerns and hopes for the future of Student Government and the student body of NC State, prompted by a panel of representatives from Technician and Nubian Message.
The evening began with an introduction from Kelly McNeil, managing editor of Technician and timekeeper of the debate, followed by the introduction of chief justice candidates Jess Hansen and Landon McKinney.
Hansen and McKinney focused on platforms that included an inclusive Student Board of Conduct that is more active in the student body.
“I don’t want to be somebody who’s sitting up with a gavel and a wig and saying ‘don’t come back to State,’ I want to be somebody who says ‘I want you here, let us help you stay here,’” Hansen said.
The question format for the student chief justice section of the debate included a one-minute introduction from the candidates followed by four questions from the panelists with two minutes each for responses.
“[The] most important job of the student chief justice is to ensure that the board gives students a fair and unbiased trial,” McKinney said.
Diversity and inclusion on campus facilitated by a change in the body of Student Government was a major focus of the debate.
Freshman vice presidential candidate Jayna Lennon, a junior studying political science, emphasized her and Quiroga’s platform of diversity, sustainability and the facilitation of the relationship between student government and the student body.
“That’s what this whole body is about,” Lennon said. “This is about using the resources we have to make student life better, to hear what students want to see change in this university and to do everything in our power to implement those changes.”
The format for the vice presidential section of the debate included a two-minute introduction followed by three questions from the panelists and one question from social media with two minutes each for responses.
Vice presidential candidate Mia Connell, a sophomore studying sociology, focused on inclusion on campus and improving the current Student Government’s shortcomings.
“A lot of the time, it seems like our programs are obsolete because they’re falling short,” Connell said. “They’re not necessarily reaching the target audience … and that’s a shame… We need to blame Student Government as a whole because Student Government isn’t providing those departments what they need to be successful.”
Vice presidential candidate Alex Mitchell, a junior studying meteorology, echoed many other candidates’ desire to push the necessity of diversity and inclusivity.
“We are united, not divided and this campus can get so much more done together,” Mitchell said. “We can conquer a lot more than being divided because we are more involved.”
Vice presidential candidate Jack Pashby, a senior studying nuclear engineering, expressed his and his running mate’s plan for campus inclusivity.
“[Our] motto for inclusion is ‘pull up a chair,’” Pashby said.
After the conclusion of the vice presidential portion of the debate and a brief intermission for the audience, the presidential section of the debate started. Presidential candidates were given time for a two-minute introduction followed by five questions from the panelists and two questions from social media with two minutes each for responses.
“We want to see [people] coming to this table and having a conversation,” said presidential candidate Alberto Quiroga, a senior studying aerospace engineering. “Let’s see how we can move forward on resolving these problems… All students are included in this, no matter your background or where you come from, you belong here at this university and you belong as a part of the Wolfpack family.”
Presidential candidate Meredith Biechele, a senior studying mechanical engineering, focused on her and her running mate’s platform of student health and improving the operational aspects of NC State, claiming there were many issues on campus that need to be addressed.
“There are a lot of issues on campus and Student Government should fix those issues,” Biechele said.
Presidential candidate Brad Barbee, a junior studying statistics, focused on affordability, improved student life and engagement within the NC State community, with an emphasis on the impact Student Government has on individuals at NC State.
“Next time this year, I really want every single hand to go up when I ask ‘What is student government doing for you?’ and ‘Is it improving your experience?’” Barbee said.
Presidential candidate Jackie Gonzalez, a junior studying political science, emphasized the fact that Student Government is failing in some regards, especially when it comes to combatting sexual assault.
“Student government failed to let students know that Night Walk is a thing,” Gonzalez said. “Students keep having these issues, and student government is failing them time and time again.”
Matthew Yanik, a graduate student studying physiology and poultry science, believes the debate was extremely influential among the voters within Student Government and the student body as a whole because it informs the voters.
“I think the debates have a strong impact on the election,” Yanik said. “Students care about what the candidates think and what they plan to do. I think the debate gives a really strong indication of what we can expect from candidates if they were to be elected.”
After the end of the questioning part of the presidential debate, candidates were given the opportunity for rebuttal and closing arguments. Gonzalez was the only candidate who chose to rebut her fellow candidates. She did so by responding to Barbee’s repeated use of victim when referring to people who have been sexually assaulted.
“I’d kick myself all night if I did not say this one rebuttal, and that’s that I am a little disappointed in my fellow candidates for not using the proper terminology referring to survivors of sexual assault,” Gonzalez said. “They are survivors; they are not victims, and they are people that have lived through their sexual assault and that live through it on a daily basis.”
Voting for all student body officers will begin Monday at 8 p.m. and end Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Presidential candidates Alberto Quiroga and Meredith Biechele answers questions during the Student Government debate on Feb. 21 in the Student Senate Chamber in Talley Student Union. The debate allowed candidates for Student Body President, Vice President, and Chief Justice to answer questions and speak about their campaigns.
