Student Senate's two presidential candidates will debate everything from the relationship between students and the city of Athens to Ohio University budget cuts at today's debate.
The debate, which is the first of two senate debates hosted by the board this year, will be moderated by Meredith Tucker, a senior studying political science and member of the Student Senate Board of Elections. Tonight's debate is at 6 p.m. in Baker University Center room 240. The executive debate, which will include the candidates for vice president and treasurer as well as the presidential candidates from both tickets, will take place next Thursday at the same location and time.
I expect the turnout (for the debate) to be pretty high
Tucker said. I think that this year's race will be closer than it has been in the past couple of years. Both parties seem to have a lot of support.
The election will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 20, and students can vote online. Electronic ballots will be available in Baker Center but there will be no paper ballots this year.
Anyone can attend the debate, and candidates will take questions from the audience as well as from Tucker. Candidates will also be asked to outline their campaign platforms at the beginning of the debate.
Our questions (will) focus on things that are important to students but might not come up in the audience questions said Matthew Denhart, chairman of the Board of Elections. One of the things (the candidates) will discuss is the town and city relationship. And of course the other major area we'll be looking at is budget cuts and how they will prioritize in that area.
Next year, Ohio University must trim $13.75 million from its budget because of lessened state funding, and all departments across campus are facing cuts.
I want to definitely discuss how (the Prepare to Engage Act and Respond ticket) is going to maintain a great level of education at the university even though we are going through a budget crisis
said Emily Hanford, presidential candidate on the P.E.A.R. ticket.
The two candidates do not know ahead of time what questions the debate moderator will choose to ask, but Jesse Neader, the presidential candidate on the SOUND ticket, said he hopes to discuss diversity on campus.
Near and dear to my heart is diversity
Neader said. I'm a diverse student and I feel like as I start talking more during this campaign I start saying the same things. The other (issues for discussion) I would like to leave up to the students ... I want to answer their questions because they should know what they're getting in a presidential candidate.
pe219007@ohiou.edu
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Pamela Engel
