Student Senate presidential candidates Molly Shea and Robert Leary sparred over communication last night in the first debate of the election.
The debate, hosted by senate's Board of Elections, was the first in a series leading up to the senate's May 14 election. Shea, a senator for Off-Campus Life, and Leary, senate treasurer, emphasized different visions of communication between the senate and the student body.
The two presidential candidates both agreed that the current senate has not done an adequate job of engaging students, but disagreed about the solution. Shea, who heads the Unite party, proposed creating a direct democracy on campus with one vote per student.
I have seen the failure of Student Senate to lead students
she said, The system is broken and we need to fix it.
Leary, who heads the iOU party, called the idea impractical, instead suggesting the senate step up its outreach efforts.
Student senators need to leave their ivory towers and come to students Leary said. Leary said he saw nothing wrong with senate's current structure, but that it needed effective leaders.
Both agreed that communication with the Board of Trustees is vital.
Shea said she wants all meetings, including OU's Budget Planning Council meetings, to be open to the public. Shea also said she had tried and failed to communicate with the board, which necessitated a student protest April 23 in which the Student Union delivered wine and letters of grievance to board members dining at the residence of OU President Roderick McDavis.
Sometimes it comes down to a protest Shea said.
Leary said senate should go to other sources when it feels the student voice is being ignored, such as the governor and the Board of Regents, the state's top education body.
Shea said she would change communication by meeting with students outside of the senate office, a place she said students find intimidating.
Senators should hold meetings outside of the senate office. Meet with students in places like coffee shops
she said.
Leary said he would begin a series of public relations initiatives to get students involved and aware of Senate, including advertising meetings, office hours and speaking to classes and
organizations.
We can't rely on students to come to us
he said.
In the end, both candidates said they would be willing to work for fundamental change.
I don't deny that iOU is better than previous Senates
but they won't change the dynamic of campus
Shea said.
I know that after I am elected
next spring the future candidates for Student Senate will be explaining how they will operate more like me and my party
Leary said.
Shea and Leary's executives will meet in a formal debate 6 p.m. tomorrow in Baker Theater.
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