Carolinian

Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: JERRY ARNOLD/THE CAROLINIAN Natalie Sell and Daryn Iwicki of the College Republicans prepare to answer a question about immigration.

Media Credit: JERRY ARNOLD/THE CAROLINIAN Brad Ward of the International Socialist Organization shares his views on gay rights.

Media Credit: JERRY ARNOLD/THE CAROLINIAN Robert Sinnott and Richard Schilhavy debated for the UNCG Libertarians in their first full-length appearance at the student debates, which PAC began hosting last fall.

Media Credit: JERRY ARNOLD/THE CAROLINIAN College Democrats Patrick Tutwiler and Denise Jones represented their group during Wednesday's debates.

Guantanamo Bay, gay rights and immigration policies were all under fire from student political groups last Wednesday night, during the first of this semester's debates - organized by the Political Action Committee and held nearing capacity in the Science Building's auditorium.

Representatives turned out from the College Republicans, the campus Libertarians, College Democrats and the International Socialist Organization (ISO). The format worked so each team received a question they had three minutes to answer. After that, each other team was allowed a two-minute response and the original team an ending one-minute rebuttal.

Questions were submitted by groups to the moderator beforehand.

The opening round of questions centered on current immigration policies, in particular with regards to Mexico and the labor illegal immigrants provide. College Republican President Daryn Iwicki fielded the first question, during which he mentioned immigrants from the southern border as "lawbreakers" but explained his party is not "anti-immigration."

"We want them to have proper identification to enjoy the systems the same way we do," said his debate partner, Natalie Sell. But this marked the beginning of a rough night for the duo who elicited boos from the crowd. The audience went on to call them "racist" and "xenophobic" throughout the first third.

Later during the same portion, Libertarian team Robert Sinnott and Richard Schilhavy made a strong argument in favor of the Minutemen, a vigilante group interested in securing borders through reporting suspected illegal immigrants who cross their private property. The team's party historically aims for little to no governmental interaction, with emphasis on personal responsibility.

"They're acting freely and protecting themselves…I'd take up issue with the laws, not the Minutemen," said Sinnott. "De-regulate it. Let people cross the borders freely."

Meanwhile, ISO representative Brad Ward argued staunchly against the organization and for the rights of immigrant workers.

"Calling immigrants lawbreakers is akin to calling all Muslims terrorists, or all Katrina victims looters," he said during the first question, then in response to a latter: "The Minutemen are attracting neo-Nazis and KKK members."

The Democrats took a larger look at globalization and employment issues throughout the period, with member Patrick Tutwiler saying, "If we're serious about immigration reforms, it'll have to start with trade policy reforms."

Debate cooled during the second round of questioning - on gay marriage rights - as all panelists agreed gays should be able to marry and only differed on the level of involvement the federal government should have in the matter.

Republicans advocated their "small government" standpoint, preferring to leave gay rights legislation to the states or at the polls.

"Small government?" Tutwiler responded, receiving one of several laughs for the Democrats during the evening. "Only if they mean small enough to fit into your bedroom."

His companion on the panel, College Democrat Denise Jones, compared the gay rights movement to the civil rights movement of decades past, and the marriage issue to that of interracial marriages.

Arguments heightened once again during the third portion of questions - dealing with Guantanamo Bay, torture legislation and treatment of detainees in the War on Terror. College Republicans remained staunchly in support of the administration's practices.

"Lots of positive information has come out of Guantanamo Bay…we have saved lives by capturing terrorists," said Iwicki.

The other groups echoed each other, saying torture tactics cannot yield accurate or positive intelligence. "[In that situation] They'll say anything," Ward exclaimed.

"It's creating a bad precedent for other countries," said Schilhavy during a Libertarian response period. "We're feeding the fire."

"To deny their human rights is morally repugnant," Tutwiler said simply. "We need to form relationships with people on the ground in foreign countries…but we're tied up in Iraq."

Overall, the Libertarians won the most widespread applause for their arguments and Ward received nods and murmurs of affirmation for his ISO stance. It was the first time either group had been represented for the entirety of a PAC student debate.

Students contacted The Carolinian after these types of debates began last fall, with the fear that though groups were attracting interest in the issues, they were sharing large amounts of false information. Moderator and political science professor, Dr. David Holian, explained this was, unfortunately, part of the process.

"There's no way to require everyone to make statements 100 percent before the fact," Holian explained. "It's a very 'founding fathers' kind of thing. People get the issues out there, they discuss them, and the truth wins out."

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