By KEVIN SWITZER
March 29, 2006

On Tuesday, March 28th at 6:00 p.m., SGA hosted the third annual presidential candidate debate featuring the four candidates for student body president in the March 30th election. The presidential candidates all came prepared to promote their credentials and declare their agendas. This year’s candidates are Peter Giordano (rising junior), Betsy Cunneen (rising senior), Jimmy Dudley (rising senior), and Liz Janson (rising junior). The event was held in Holy Grounds, where some sixty students attended.

The candidates were each allowed a set time for opening remarks. These were followed by questions posed by a panel of moderators, which consisted of Dr. David Williams (theology professor), senior Austin Scott, and current SGA president Stefanie Whorton. The candidates were each given a set time to answer the questions. At the end of the debate, they were each allowed a set time for concluding remarks as well.

To wrap up the event, candidates running for other executive offices in the election took turns introducing themselves. Running for vice president is Mark Blair (sophomore). Running for secretary are Caitlin Sanaga (junior) and Maria Jose Torres (junior). Running for public relations officer are Lisa Brown (junior), Amber McCloughan (junior), and Sidney Hoff (junior).

All the candidates did an excellent job composing answers to the questions. But like many formal debates where the debaters are running for office, many of the answers were not specific enough for voters to base their decisions entirely on what the candidates said. It is important, therefore, to learn what you can about the candidates outside the debate. Talk to them, get to know them, and see for yourself what they are like. Pay attention to their campaigns. Only then can you make an informed choice.

One of the questions raised in the debate concerned the recurring problem of apathy among students at Belmont Abbey. Whomever we, the students, elect for any of these offices, the biggest contribution any of us can make to SGA is not just to cast a vote. If we are truly interested in the improvement of campus life and how things are run at this college, then we need to be more responsive to the actions our student government and the various groups on campus do take. We need to start showing up for the various events and activities offered to us, such as this debate. I know there are more than sixty students on this campus. The people in charge will be willing to do more for us if we are willing to show them that we care about what they do.