MUNCIE, Ind. --- Rise took the stage tonight for the third and final round of SGA election debates.
With only one ticket running this year, the event ran more like a town hall rather than a debate and the candidates had the opportunity to discuss issues about campus life and student affairs.
However, most of the questions asked focused on the candidates’ qualifications and goals.
“I promised when I first stepped onto Ball State’s campus as a freshman, that I was going to leave an imprint no matter what I do,” said Presidential candidate Tina Nguyen.
Nguyen is the current president of the student government association and says that her experience as president along with her drive to make change for the student body makes her a great candidate for president.
Vice Presidential candidate, Monet Lindstrand, is the current president pro-tempore and works closely with the current vice president in SGA.
Together they make up their ticket, Rise, and their main platforms include sexual assault prevention and improving campus transportation. The pair discussed their plans to implement an “Angel Shot” program in local businesses.
“It’s a code. Usually, it’s in the women’s bathroom and it can either be ‘please call me an uber’ or an Angel Shot with lemon is ‘please call the cops’ it’s a way to get help,” explained Nguyen.
Their goals to improve transportation mainly focus on the Charlie Charter, a service provided to Ball State students that will give them a ride anywhere on campus.
“The big thing is they use plain white vans and some students have expressed concern over that,” explained Lindstrand.
Rise plans to improve signage on the vans and make it more obvious that they are Ball State vehicles.
They also hope to promote SGA to students that may not know about the organization. Lindstrand explained that social media will play a huge part in getting the word out about SGA and their visits to other organizations across Ball State have done a lot to help educate students.
Overall, the ticket expressed that their focus will always be on students.
“We want you guys to call us out if we aren’t amplifying your voices,” said Nguyen.
SGA elections are Monday and Tuesday and election ballots were sent out via email to all Ball State students.
Contact Madeline Kerr with comments at makerr@bsu.edu.
