2008 Woodie Awards
The candidates debate and I wonder why
BARRY FRANKLIN
Issue date: 3/5/07 Section: Opinion
As I sat in the Student Union Building last week, dutifully fulfilling my job as a student, listening to the candidates at the ASBSU debates, I was left wondering why I was there in the first place.
I wrote notes furiously and tried to catch every word they said. I paid attention to their platforms and gave them the respect due. It takes guts to get up in front of students and debate your ideas.
At the end though, after taking a long hard look at what I wrote down, nothing made sense. Most of the candidates said the same thing over and over again, simply regurgitating the same ideas.
When asked what they would do with extra funds, all but one candidate for At Large Senator said they would use them for scholarships. When asked what they would do for students, over half of the total candidates said they would hold ASBSU fiscally responsible.
They all said they wanted the student government to be transparent. Wasn’t this supposed to be a debate? Does not a debate entail differing ideas?
Yes it is hard to get up in front of students and speak. Yes the candidates all seemed engaged in the activity and yes it was good of them to show up. I know what you might be thinking - easy for you to say, Barry. You can sit down behind your computer and think out what you say. You can use the delete button.
Yes, but this is what I do. I sit down behind a computer and write. Debating ideas is what senators do. I completely expect people to hold me responsible for information and that is why I went to the debates and furiously took notes. Should we not be able to hold students running for political office responsible for the same?
I expect candidates to research the position they are running for. When certain candidates did not know whether ASBSU could use funds for scholarships my expectations were not met. I expect candidates to have thought out their own ideas long enough to come up with something different than fiscal responsibility and transparent government. Sure those are aspects we need in student government, but what about all the other issues involved? What about other committees like Traditions or Ways and Means?
At each turn of a paragraph, however, I seek to stave the poison so easily thrown by the keyboard. This whole university thing is a learning experience and when I close my mind to that and begin taking myself too seriously. That crucial learning experience is impeded.
The students running for ASBSU next semester are students just like you and me - people looking to take a direction in life.
What I propose is for the student body not to hold ASBSU responsible for everything wrong with the school. The reality of their situation does not allow them to make any big changes.
Students should, however, hold ASBSU responsible for learning, for growing and for participating. We should all hold the candidates responsible for achieving what they set out to achieve.
These debates were giant steps in engaging the candidates and helping each other further our education. Let us keep it that way.
I wrote notes furiously and tried to catch every word they said. I paid attention to their platforms and gave them the respect due. It takes guts to get up in front of students and debate your ideas.
At the end though, after taking a long hard look at what I wrote down, nothing made sense. Most of the candidates said the same thing over and over again, simply regurgitating the same ideas.
When asked what they would do with extra funds, all but one candidate for At Large Senator said they would use them for scholarships. When asked what they would do for students, over half of the total candidates said they would hold ASBSU fiscally responsible.
They all said they wanted the student government to be transparent. Wasn’t this supposed to be a debate? Does not a debate entail differing ideas?
Yes it is hard to get up in front of students and speak. Yes the candidates all seemed engaged in the activity and yes it was good of them to show up. I know what you might be thinking - easy for you to say, Barry. You can sit down behind your computer and think out what you say. You can use the delete button.
Yes, but this is what I do. I sit down behind a computer and write. Debating ideas is what senators do. I completely expect people to hold me responsible for information and that is why I went to the debates and furiously took notes. Should we not be able to hold students running for political office responsible for the same?
I expect candidates to research the position they are running for. When certain candidates did not know whether ASBSU could use funds for scholarships my expectations were not met. I expect candidates to have thought out their own ideas long enough to come up with something different than fiscal responsibility and transparent government. Sure those are aspects we need in student government, but what about all the other issues involved? What about other committees like Traditions or Ways and Means?
At each turn of a paragraph, however, I seek to stave the poison so easily thrown by the keyboard. This whole university thing is a learning experience and when I close my mind to that and begin taking myself too seriously. That crucial learning experience is impeded.
The students running for ASBSU next semester are students just like you and me - people looking to take a direction in life.
What I propose is for the student body not to hold ASBSU responsible for everything wrong with the school. The reality of their situation does not allow them to make any big changes.
Students should, however, hold ASBSU responsible for learning, for growing and for participating. We should all hold the candidates responsible for achieving what they set out to achieve.
These debates were giant steps in engaging the candidates and helping each other further our education. Let us keep it that way.
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