WKNC sponsored a debate for candidates running in the 2010 general Student Government elections which took place in the Talley Student Center ballroom on Thursday evening.

Watch the debates online – (Part 1 | Part 2)

Each candidate had 60 seconds to answer questions posed by hosts WKNC General Manager Mike Alston and Public Affairs Director Saja Hindi. After all, the candidates had a chance to answer, they were allowed 30 to 60 seconds for voluntary rebuttal.

According to Hindi, debates like these are really important during campaign time.

“This is a good time for students to find out what the candidates are all about and about their campaign promises and their goals,” Hindi said.

The first question Hindi and Alston posed to the student body president (SBP) candidates was “define the responsibilities of the student body president.”

Kelly Hook, SBP candidate and chief of staff, had a unique answer. She said the main job of the student body president is to “manage the team of 12 people who really do all the work.”

Hindi and Alston asked the SBP candidates at one point, “It seems there is a rebranding campaign almost every year. Does Student Government need rebranding with the new administration this year?”

Scott Goldsmith, a SBP candidate, said “I don’t think we need a rebranding campaign. If Student Government is functioning the way it should, our rebranding will be that we are doing our job.”

Other interesting questions the SBP candidates were asked included which they thoughtwas more important, their assessment of an issue or the student assessment; detailing their foremost platform plank; what sets them apart from their opponents and what they thought Student Government’s relationship with Technician should be in the future.

Answering, Charles “Ches” McDowell, an SBP candidate, said he has worked to pay his way through school and he can identify with students who have participated in fraternities and organizations.

Matt Woodward also said he has broad experience participating in student organizations.

Goldsmith said his platform is the most detailed and specific while Hook said she has experience and understands the way the SBP position works.

The Student Senate president candidates Michael Robinson, Stephen Kouba and Sarah Center were asked questions including what they would do differently than the current student Senate president and what students would lose, “if anything,” if the Student Senate disappeared next year.

Answering the latter, Robinson said students would lose representation on University committees and that “the voices of the students would be severely diminished.”

Center said that it’s easier for students to approach a student senator with their input than to approach a University administrator.

The student body treasurer candidates Eagean “Buddy” Bryson and Kyle O’Donnell were asked how they were going to keep the budget process transparent and what their proudest accomplishments in Student Government have been.

Answering the former, O’Donnell said he wants to use a page on the Student Government Web site to update the budget in real time, whereas Bryson said he wants to use Facebook to stay in touch with the students and use Google Docs to make budget information accessible.

Allison Hofmann, freshman in nutrition science who attended the debates, said she was glad she attended.

“I think you’re doing a disservice to the future of the University if you’re not an informed voter. Public forums like this allow you to see candidates out of their comfort zones and have their platforms challenged,” Hofmann said.