The first Student Senate presidential candidate debate, held Thursday, allowed candidates Reagan Farmer, Issac Davis and Kiandra Martin to explain their platforms and answer questions submitted by students.
The debate began with each candidate introducing themselves and the opportunity to present their platforms and leadership styles.
Farmer, the Senate’s current treasurer, was the first to introduce herself and then allowed the other people on her ticket, the Unity Vote, to introduce themselves.
Dan Gordillo, the current governmental affairs commissioner, running for vice president, and Johnny Susany, current governmental affairs vice-commissioner, running for treasurer, are accompanying Farmer in her campaign.
Martin was the next candidate to introduce herself, and she was the only candidate running alone, having no other students on her ticket.
“I am running alone; it doesn't make me nervous, but I am running alone,” Martin said. “I am really here to be just a student for students, to be personable, just another student on this campus who has the heart and the drive to really elevate Ohio University.”
Last to introduce themselves were Davis, the Senate’s current vice president, and Ayshni Tandon, the current minority affairs vice-commissioner, who is running as his vice president. Hunter Price is running as treasurer with Davis, but was unable to attend the event due to a flight delay, Davis said.
The debate continued with Grace Jarchow, executive justice on the Senate's judicial panel, asking questions to presidential candidates only, who each had two minutes to respond to each question.
Presidential candidates answered questions regarding their experiences with delegation within the Senate, responses to past mistakes, values they would bring to the position and what they would hope to achieve if elected.
In a recent report written by The New Political, an anonymous Senate source said Davis allegedly delegated his tasks to other Senate members; Davis responded to the allegations after the debate and emphasized delegation is one of his responsibilities as vice president.
“In my role as vice president, delegation is one of the utmost, rule No. 1 for it. In the (Senate rules and procedures), the main job you have is referring appropriate actions to commissions,” Davis said. “You don't just dump it on their desk, you work with them, and you see how you can help them through that process, and I feel like that's what I've done.”
Another question presented to the presidential candidates included how they plan to positively represent OU students.
Each candidate felt students should be able to connect with their Senate representatives and have their voices heard within the Senate.
Following the questions directed at the presidential candidates, Jarchow then proceeded to ask questions open to any member on a ticket.
Students in the audience could then hear responses from everyone running for an executive position.
The questions for this portion of the debate included how each person would handle criticism, invoke compromise, remain unbiased and plan to learn from their positions if elected.
Throughout his responses to each question, Gordillo emphasized the importance of communication when holding a leadership position, referencing how communication has shaped his current position within the Senate.
“It comes down to communication, communication and more communication,“ Gordillo said. "You have to sit down with the people that you need to compromise with. You need to have conversations, as many as are needed.”
The last portion of the debate consisted of candidates answering questions sent in by students. One question asked about more transparency in student government.
Farmer said she plans on implementing transparency by reinstating the Bobcat grievance form, which would allow students to communicate concerns to the Senate at any time.
Likewise, Davis said he would like to increase transparency by hosting open forum town halls, where students can ask questions directly to their representatives.
Martin said transparency comes from the Senate president and having effective communication can enhance the Senate office.
“I feel like transparency really comes down to reducing those barriers with who you're working with, and being able to just effectively have communication about what can be brought up or can get brought down, and what we can and can’t do,” Martin said.
Following the debate, each candidate said they felt the debate went well and would be happy to answer questions from students about their platforms.
The next Student Senate debate will be held March 28 at 6 p.m. in room 235 of Walter Hall.
