On Monday, I attended the debate between the two Student Government Association (SGA) presidential nominees hosted by The News. The stuffiness of the debate made me feel like I was at a cigar bar sipping bourbon ‘- or something of that sort.
Can someone please remind the candidates they are still college students? A friend of mine, and fellow News staff member, asked both SGA Vice President for Student Affairs Ryan Fox and Senator Matthew Soleyn what they would name Parcel 18 if it was entirely their decision. I was shocked when neither candidate answered directly. Seriously Senators, you’re pretty much given a question to show your fun sides, and you pass that chance up? Soleyn actually said he would allow student submissions in the form of a contest. That idea has disaster written all over it. If it was up to Joe Husky to name Parcel 18, the name would be something so obscene I couldn’t write it in this All Hail. I wanted to hear the senators say something over-the-top ridiculous. An answer like ‘Fox 4 Eva’ or ‘Slammin’ Soleyn’ would have won my vote.
Obviously I want someone serving as president who has experience and can fully commit to the position. Hearing wishy-washy responses to questions doesn’t get us anywhere, though ‘- I want to get to know the candidates. What’s your favorite color, Matthew? Do you watch ‘American Idol,’ Ryan? If you were stuck on a deserted island, what’s the one thing you would bring? I know these are not the answers that will change things at Northeastern, but besides your thoughts on the students’ Bill of Rights, I want to know a little bit about you as a person.
Not only did I not get a sense of each candidate’s personality, but it brought me back to all the previous SGA direct elections. This is the third direct election, and it seems as if the issues debated are the same once again. Both senators made a strong point about making SGA approachable to all students. Both said SGA meetings should be a place students feel comfortable going to with an issue. Well, if you want students to relate to you, maybe you should start acting like one of us. I’m in no way pushing for the senators to be irresponsible messes, but I would like to see what’s hiding behind the suit-wearing facade they put up. For the senators, it seems like it’s all work and no play. Where’s the fun in that?
On a final note, why can’t the senators answer a question directly? A member of the audience asked the candidates about their personal beliefs. Fox rambled about it not being an important issue and told the questioner he can ask him in private afterward. But why? Fox, we’re just trying to get to know you. Seeing as it’s 2009 and we’re living in liberal Massachusetts, whether you’re Christian, Buddhist, atheist or follow Kabbalah, won’t change our votes.
Someone else asked Soleyn at the debate about his role in SGA and the Resident Student Association (RSA), and it’s still not clear what his plan of action will be. His response was that he hasn’t decided whether or not he will resign from his RSA position if elected president. Way to inject us with confidence, Soleyn.
So, Senators, could you just answer this final question for me:’ What’s your age, again?

‘- Mary Ann Georgantopoulos is a junior journalism
major and member of The News staff.