Correction appended.
On- and off-campus senator candidates for Student Senate spoke in a debate Monday night about issues such as diversity and inclusion.
In the debate, hosted by Student Senate, three moderators from the judicial panel asked the candidates three questions. The three tickets running in this year’s election are Voice, Fight and Green Light. None of the tickets had all of their candidates in attendance.
One of the questions for on-campus senators asked what issues they see regarding diversity within the residence halls.
Xan Spalding, East Green candidate with the Voice ticket, said RAs should have open conversations in their residence halls. She is currently an RA on East Green.
Mackenzie Brooks, South Green senator candidate with the Green Light ticket took a different approach in her response.
“We should expand gender-neutral housing to the other greens, and the RAs should be pushing for inclusion,” Brooks said.
Another question a moderator asked the candidates was what is most important to their constituents, and how they will address that.
“I feel that one of the most important thing to our constituents is to make sure they have a say in matters,” Tiffany Anderson, South Green senator candidate with the Voice ticket, said. “I know this year especially we tried to do something with the hall counsel, but I want to push that further.”
Alicia Lundy, West Green senator candidate with the Green Light ticket, said the most important thing to her residents is the collaborative aspects, especially with the Ohio University Police Department.
Candidates were also asked how they would stay connected to their residents.
Spalding said she wants to connect with other RAs to work with them to connect their residents.
Alex Jackson, South Green senator candidate with the Green Light ticket, agreed with Spalding.
“I would build up good relationships with all of the RAs, that way the students living in those halls know that if they have concerns, they have someone to go through,” Jackson said.
The judges also asked the off-campus senators two similar questions and a question about helping students with housing problems. The only two senators present were with the Green Light ticket.
Those two senators, Olivia Mirich and Matthew Mamone had similar answers reflecting the Green Light ticket’s focus on safety for students.
The final debate, the executive town hall forum, is Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Walter 235.
Correction: A previous version of this report incorrectly identified which West Green candidate for the Green Light ticket said collaboration with OUPD is important. The article has been updated to reflect the most accurate information.
