Campus community, student services and parking were the main topics of discussion at the first student candidate debate.
The eight students running for president and vice president of the Associated Students of the University of Utah met at noon Wednesday to introduce their platforms to the campus and one another. Chronicle Editor in Chief Matt Canham moderated the debate.
The candidates first told the audience of about 35 students five things they would do if elected to office.
Candidates Steven Paradise and Rodney Earl from the Apathy Party spoke first about building a sense of community and increasing awareness and publicity on campus. They also said they would like to support the K UTE radio station, which the current ASUU administration would like to stop funding.
Earl, the Apathy party vice presidential candidate also said his party was ignorant, and if elected to office, he would find important issues to address.
Bill Edwards from the Impact Party spent much of his introduction discussing parking. Edwards said he wanted more spaces created, the campus shuttle system improved and a push for students to use alternate forms of transportation.
He also addressed tuition, promising to inform students, stay active in the Utah Student Association and make sure tuition does not continually increase.
The third topic Edwards discussed was student involvement.
“There are communities on campus,” he said. He suggested improving and strengthening those communities.
Steven Rinehart, Probable Cause presidential candidate, introduced himself as the law student suing Transportation and Parking Services and spent much of his opening statement discussing parking.
“We will see student parking restored,” he said. He promised to build a parking structure, saying it is possible and affordable.
Rinehart also discussed the social environment on campus, saying that students do not have as much interaction as they should. He proposed regular parties on campus, as well as a large annual party with a performance from a touring-level band.
Rinehart also mentioned making sure teaching assistants can speak English, increasing teacher accountability for their grading policies and improving exercise facilities.
Elevation’s AnnMarie Allen and Colter Hammer discussed enhancing student benefits, parking, tuition, traditions and communication during their opening statement.
Elevation promised to support the conclusions of the parking task force set up by the current ASUU administration.
“We’ve been involved with the parking campaign from the beginning,” Hammer said.
Elevation also wishes to introduce an “open-door administration” where ASUU leaders will spend time talking to students to find out what they want and need.
Allen said there are not enough traditions on campus and hopes to make more traditions to unite the student body.
“We have a vision of a commuter school that feels like we all live on campus,” she said.
The candidates each spoke about what they thought was the most important issue in their platform.
Elevation chose the open door administration.
“We want to be a receptive student government,” Allen said.
Rinehart spoke about his and vice presidential running mate Annie Deprey’s experience.
“We bring freshness,” Rinehart said. “We believe we have the skills and background.”
Impact talked about meeting students needs, including recycling on campus, student discount cards, tutoring on campus and a student fan club.
Apathy promised to find out what students want if elected. Apathy closed with a discussion of the indifference on campus and how so few students vote.
“Students don’t take this seriously,” Paradise said. “We will show students this isn’t a joke.”
Elevation candidates talked about Freshman Council and the United Leadership Conference during their final speech and ended by urging students to vote for a party that will represent them.
“I feel like we are very good candidates because of the unique blend of experience,” said Randall Lloyd, Impact vice presidential candidate. “We’re surrounded by some of the most incredible people on campus.”
“We’re here, we mean business,” Rinehart said in his closing statement. “We hope for your vote.”