The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Media Credit: Grace Woodard Grace Woodard/The University News Cari Johns faces the issues head-on at the debate held Tuesday, flanked by opponents Andrew Chappelle, left, and Chris Wipke, right. The vice-presidential candidates debated subsequently. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Grace Woodard Grace Woodard/The University News Teresa Gabhart, candidate for administrative vice president on the Students First ticket, spoke during a debate with her opponent, Bhavin Mehta, on Tuesday evening in the multipurpose room. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Grace Woodard Grace Woodard/The University News Election Commissioner Mike Herman (center) oversaw four panelists at Tuesday's debate. Among them was Filipino Student Association President Jen Prudencio (speaking). [Click to enlarge]

Fourteen fewer candidates took to the podium than last year, in hopes of popular election to the Student Government Association, but the Busch Student Center ballroom was again host to a two-hour plus debate Tuesday evening, which addressed issues of student life and governance.

Presidential candidate Chris Wipke of the I.D.E.A. ticket started the evening of debate with his opening statement. Wipke immediately answered his critics, by saying, "Being president of SGA is not about being an R.A."

Wipke went on to name a number of reasons why he was the best presidential candidate, which included his four years of SLU experience enabling him to know what students want.

He then criticized current SGA legislation, stating, in reference to the newly passed meal-plan, that SGA legislation must work for all students. He pledged that, as president, he would make a new meal plan that works for all students, highlighting that commuter students should not be "taxed" for living off campus.

The Students First candidate, sophomore Cari Johns, was quick to list the issues she saw as most important for next year's legislation. This list included renovation of the Simon Recreation Center, creating upperclassmen scholarships, reconfiguring the SGA and utilizing the empty BSC Room 319.

To her own credit, she was able to boast the fact that she headed the only ticket to have candidates running for all five positions on the executive board. She went on to mention that she also had 26 candidates running under the banner of Students First for the various senate positions.

Tension filled the ballroom as the former Black Student Alliance president and sole member of the Making It Happen ticket, Andrew Chappelle, gave his opening remarks. He was the first among the candidates to focus on the negative aspects of his two opposing candidate.

"Senator Johns, is, ladies and gentleman, a flip-flopper," said Chappelle, after explaining Johns' back-and-forth decision to run for president, emphasizing that it was only after the revelation of his scandal that she truly decided to run for SGA president-and felt that she had a chance of winning.

Chappelle continued to criticize Johns, noting her plan for presidency, stating, "[Senator Johns has] no concrete plans about the Rec Center."

Chappelle also addressed Johns' previous work on SGA.

"Her batting average stands to be improved," he said.

Chappelle was cut off, due to time, as he was preparing his comments about Wipke.

After the opening statements, the candidates answered questions from a panel of staff and students, which included current SGA President Adam Meister, Vice-President of Information Technology Services Ellen Watson, Associate Director of Student Life Linda Wardhammar and Filipino Student Association President Jen Prudencio.

Prudencio asked Johns how she would address diversity on campus. The question trickled into a response statement regarding the possibility of SGA appointing a vice president of social justice.

Johns said that if students are aware of the different events on campus it would help increase diversity, but she made her stance on the possibility of a new SGA vice president clear, saying, "I don't think the social justice vice president position is the way to solve the problem [of the lack of diversity]."

"It needs to be a position that represents all the social justice and diversity programs on campus," added Johns.

Wipke later contrasted his views with Johns' comments, saying, "I really think we should have a voice of social justice in the SGA."

President Meister addressed all candidates, challenging them to address "the one issue most pertinent to SLU students."

Wipke stated the issue to be student apathy and claimed that a way to fix it would be "taking care of students when they walk in the door [to SLU]."

He also criticized the current welcoming process saying, "I don't think FYE is doing its job right now."

Chappelle said the most pertinent issue was the rise in tuition.

"Waiting four years for an upperclassman scholarship is ridiculous," said Chappelle. "However we do it, it's important that those scholarships start getting out."

Johns strayed from her challengers, stating the SGA's accountability as the most pertinent issue to address.

"Every student questions the integrity of this organization," said Johns of the SGA, clearly aiming at the recent controversy over Chappelle's compliance concerning the buying of an iPod using student funding.

Wardhammer asked the presidential candidates about their interpretation of the oath of office for SGA and how it should be interpreted.

Chappelle was the first to respond to this question.

"I feel I violated that oath [both of SGA and also BSA]," said Chappelle.

Regarding his involvement with the iPod issue, he said, "I feel that oath is extremely important, and in my case, it was a slip up."

Wipke replied sharply, stating, "The best leader is someone with integrity. I will not line my pockets with your money."

Chappelle implied that some of the candidates on Johns' Students First ticket, originally slated to be on his own ticket, still believed he was the best candidate.

During a follow-up question, Johns asked Chappelle, "Why do you continue to endorse VP's that don't support you anymore?"

"I have heard from their mouths that I would be the best [president], but maybe that has changed," responded Chappelle.

After the long round of questioning, Matt Buhrman of the I.D.E.A. ticket and Evan Krauss of the Students First ticket, the two executive vice presidential candidates took to the podiums, with Buhrman sporting a beanie cap in the style of the red cap normally adorning Krauss's head.

Krauss endorsed a strategy of combining student groups, stating it would be his goal to "encourage collaboration between student organizations."

"Students still feel their needs aren't being met," said Buhrman in disagreement. "We need to increase the numbers of CSOs out there."

"I don't think incorporating what is already out there will fix the problem," said Buhrman.

Another problem the executive VP candidates addressed was student groups' confusion or failure to submit all proper paper work to the SGA regarding funding, constitution and contact information.

Buhrman proposed a solution would be to "Put all forms on a CD," as he pulled a CD-R from the podium and waved it at students.

Krauss, a believer in personal encounter, said, "It would be my duty to meet with [CSOs] personally."

Junior Elle Hogan of Students First and senior Amy Rapp of I.D.E.A., the candidates for the academic Vice-Presidential position, were the next to join the debate.

Both candidates approached the core curriculum with hopes of improvement, though their methods for doing so would be different.

"I think that it's important that we standardize the core classes across the schools," said Hogan, proposing an easier way for underclassman to switch majors.

Rapp attacked the topics of the current core saying, "There needs to be much more diversity and cultural issues brought up."

Issues of the only other contested seat, that of Administrative Vice-President, were debated between Students First's Teresa Gabhart and I.D.E.A.'s Bhavin Mehta.

Gabhart, who formerly was slated to be on Andrew Chappelle's Making It Happen Ticket until the iPod scandal became public, did address her relationship with Chappelle.

"I'm not on Andrew Chappelle's ticket...I felt like my integrity was being legitimized," said Gabhart. "Andrew had a full year to come forward and address [the situation], but he didn't."

Uncontested Financial Vice-President Joe Cirillo was given two minutes to speak on his plans for office. While he did address his strength as a candidate, he used most of his time highlighting the strength of his ticket.

"I am fortunate to be a link in a very strong chain," said Cirillo.

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