With Student Government Association election voting beginning Monday, presidential slates are getting their messages out to students.
Student safety, village parking and cooperation between Ball State University and the Muncie community were key issues addressed at the Student Government Association Slate Debate on Wednesday night. Despite technical difficulties that took the debate off the air for about two minutes, the slates had the chance to talk about their platform issues on live television.
Both slates, Vote Bare and U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative, said they are prepared to listen to the student body and provide feasible solutions to problems they encounter.
While student safety was important to both Vote Bare and U.N.I.T.E.D Initiative, each side had a different approach on how to get the job done.
Vote Bare stressed the importance of blue lights on campus, closer parking and educating students during orientation about safety awareness. U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative discussed better lighting on the Cow Path, creating better sidewalks in the Quad area and continuing Charlie's Charter.
"We are not willing to put a cost on safety," Caleb Boucher, Vote Bare vice presidential candidate, said.
Parking in the village was brought up several times during the debate, and while both sides agreed that something needed to be done, each side offered a different solution. Betsy Mills, U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative presidential candidate, said implementing village parking vouchers would greatly reduce problems, such as flat tires or driving under the influence during the middle of the night. If the voucher system was used, students would be able to purchase vouchers from village businesses for a few dollars that would allow them to leave their cars in the Village until about 10:30 a.m.
Vote Bare disagreed and said the vouchers would be a burden on business owners. Instead, Matt Bare, presidential candidate, proposed a late night shuttle loop that would run into the village so students wouldn't have to drive. While the proposed loop would cost around $10,000, Bare said, MITS has agreed to pay $5,000 if Ball State can provide the other half.
One audience member asked the candidates what they thought of a local politician referring to Ball State University students as "lazy drunks." Both Mills and Bare agreed Ball State University and the Muncie community should work together to create a better partnership.
"Students bring money to this community," said Mills, who grew up in the area.
Students and the community should be united and friends, she said, and should use the resources they already have, such as the Muncie Mayor's Commission.
When it came to wireless computer printing services, Jamie Manuel, vice presidential candidate for U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative, said his slate believed wireless printing would cost too much because more paper would be used and therefore was not feasible. Vote Bare, on the other hand, believed the plan is very feasible, candidate for treasurer Rachelle Reichert said.
Dead Week was an idea both slates supported because it would give students time to better prepare for finals as professors could not give out additional assignments, tests or projects. It is essential for Ball State to compete with other schools, such as Purdue, that have it, Bare said.
Dead Week would help students and give them an opportunity to review for finals, which would be especially helpful to freshman who are not used to tests being such a major part of their grades, Vote Bare supporter Kelli Ryan said.
While SGA acts as a go-between for students and administrative staff, not all student requests are feasible, Bare said. Vote Bare recognized this and he said students should focus on the issues that are most important to them.
Mills on the other hand, said U.N.I.T.E.D Initiative is committed to representing every student on campus and wants to connect with students and faculty.
In their closing remarks, Vote Bare focused on feasibility and the importance of student involvement, while U.N.I.T.E.D. emphasized change as its overall theme.
"U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative isn't just a name; it's a philosophy," Manuel said.
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