The two candidates vying to be president of Student Senate squared off last night at their first public debate.
From moderator Kate Steven’s very first question asking the candidates to differentiate themselves, RSVP presidential nominee Kyle Triplett cited his experience as a student trustee as an advantage he holds over his opponent, FACE presidential candidate Matthew Wallace.
“The Student Senate president attends BPC meetings and has weekly meetings with administrators, something I already do as a student trustee,” he said.
Wallace countered, saying his ticket draws its leaders from a variety of areas within the student body.
“I feel like I’m much closer to the students (than Triplett),” he said.
The two presidential hopefuls differed significantly in their plans for the university’s budget. Triplett said his approach would focus on protecting support services that are funded by the General Fee.
“We are facing a $9.6 million budget shortfall,” he said. “Cuts need to be made, but they need to be made responsibly.”
Wallace said senate needs to make the budget planning process more transparent because students should be able to see how their money is spent.
The FACE platform advocates opening Budget Planning Council meetings, while the RSVP platform does not.
Triplett’s party’s platform does not address the issue because it is not something students are interested in, he said.
Audience questions addressed various campaign promises, including FACE’s plan to eliminate AlcoholEdu. Senate President Jesse Neader said the university is already in a long-term contract with the program and asked Wallace how he plans to make the university break that contract.
Wallace said the act of advocating the removal of the program with a resolution would fulfill senate’s obligations to students.
Another audience member asked Triplett how his party’s plan to bring a $100,000 concert to OU is a fiscally responsible choice.
“RSVP is not promising to spend an extra $100,000 by any means,” he said, adding that the funds for the potential concert would come from the General Fee, not an additional charge to students.
During the debate, the candidates also clashed on the role of political parties in senate elections. Wallace has campaigned to ban parties if elected, but Triplett said they are necessary.
“Parties are very important. As you’re heading into election season, you need to have all your ducks in a row,” Triplett said, adding that if all candidates had to be independent, some candidates could have a significant financial advantage.
Wallace disagreed, saying his plan would make elections fairer by taking away the advantage currently held by sitting senate members.
Triplett also challenged Wallace on voting rights for student trustees. Wallace argued that student trustees should have voting rights because without them, the university does not have true shared governance.
“There is a lot of discontent with the policies of administrators,” Wallace said, adding that if student trustees could vote, policies might be more agreeable to students.
However, Triplett said voting rights are unnecessary because the Board of Trustees already listens to students.
Although neither candidate is currently a member of Student Senate, both have been members in the past, and they both said they are ready to get back to work.
“I feel like senate is somewhere I can flourish,” Wallace said.
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