2008 Woodie Awards
Spartan TV hosts SGA candidates
Lili Johnson
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Campus News
What was meant to be a presidential debate turned out to be more of a discussion last week with SGA members Sen. Michael Tuso and Sen. Andrea Schronce speaking about the qualities and experience they feel they embody, enabling them to become the leaders of the student body.
Spartan TV hosted the debate shortly after SGA announced there would be a do-over in the election process. The television station invited all the presidential and vice-presidential candidates to attend the event, however, due to a decline of the request and a failure to show, only two candidates were available to answer questions.
Sen. Tuso, running for president, and Sen. Schronce, running for vice-president, are running mates in the election, making it difficult to hold an actual debate with just the two. Instead, Chris Brown, a Spartan TV anchor, moderated more of a question-and-answer discussion, asking the team what makes them the better candidates.
The questions began with an inquiry into why the candidates were running for their positions. Schronce made it clear she is interested in building relationships with the student body and stated she has a "passion for government." Tuso feels students need to be assured their opinions are being heard, and this is not being done at the present.
Other questions ranged from the candidates' experience in politics to their views on campus safety and crime.
"My experience goes well beyond my opponent's," said Tuso when asked about statements made by Sen. Michael Boglovits, the other candidate running for SGA president, claiming Tuso was less experienced. "As far as I know we are on the same platform…[yet] I feel my experience is far more extensive."
In regards to crime on campus, both candidates expressed their concern for students' safety. Schronce explained their attempts to lobby administrators to address the safety problems.
"Michael [Tuso] and I worked on legislation for a campus safety walk," stated Schronce. "But I've noticed when I walk alone at night I haven't seen any police officers."
Spartan TV hosted the debate shortly after SGA announced there would be a do-over in the election process. The television station invited all the presidential and vice-presidential candidates to attend the event, however, due to a decline of the request and a failure to show, only two candidates were available to answer questions.
Sen. Tuso, running for president, and Sen. Schronce, running for vice-president, are running mates in the election, making it difficult to hold an actual debate with just the two. Instead, Chris Brown, a Spartan TV anchor, moderated more of a question-and-answer discussion, asking the team what makes them the better candidates.
The questions began with an inquiry into why the candidates were running for their positions. Schronce made it clear she is interested in building relationships with the student body and stated she has a "passion for government." Tuso feels students need to be assured their opinions are being heard, and this is not being done at the present.
Other questions ranged from the candidates' experience in politics to their views on campus safety and crime.
"My experience goes well beyond my opponent's," said Tuso when asked about statements made by Sen. Michael Boglovits, the other candidate running for SGA president, claiming Tuso was less experienced. "As far as I know we are on the same platform…[yet] I feel my experience is far more extensive."
In regards to crime on campus, both candidates expressed their concern for students' safety. Schronce explained their attempts to lobby administrators to address the safety problems.
"Michael [Tuso] and I worked on legislation for a campus safety walk," stated Schronce. "But I've noticed when I walk alone at night I haven't seen any police officers."
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