As the Carleton University Students’ Association election approaches, students had a chance to hear executive candidates debate, respond to questions and detail their platforms Feb. 5 in the Atrium at what has become the annual CUSA all-candidates debate.
The candidates were separated into two “slates” or groups of people running with common platforms, with the exception of two independents. The two slates, “United Carleton” and “A Better Deal” had similar views on the creation of a fall reading week, the lowering of tuition, the importance of CUSA-run events, the creation of a sexual assault centre, the creation of more student space, increased funding of clubs and societies and environmental sustainability.
They differed on how to accomplish these objectives, where the money should come from and which issues should get priority. The two independents also brought their own ideas to these issues.
“A Better Deal” ran on a platform of cutting executive salaries and increased accountability and efficiency.
“United Carleton” proposed new initiatives for a bottled-water-free campus, green bins in CUSA-run businesses and advocated for more student lobbying.
Debating the U-Pass
The first order of business was not a debate between candidates, but one regarding the referendum question on the U-Pass. The question was debated by current CUSA president Erik Halliwell representing the ”yes” side and Chris Gillen representing the “no.”
Halliwell pointed out that the U-Pass promotes sustainability and will save students money, calling the U-Pass “smart planning for the long term.” He said the students should give the U-Pass a mandate and then any negotiating can be done on an opt-out clause.
Gillen said the opt-out clause should be implemented before a referendum to give students greater bargaining capabilities.
“This deal is not right for us right now,” Gillen said. He said students who would not use the U-Pass should not be forced to pay for it, and it would lower the quality of bus service in Ottawa.
Executive hopefuls vie for students’ votes
First in the executive candidate debate were the candidates running for president of CUSA. Current CUSA vice-president (student issues) Nick Bergamini is running for president under “A Better Deal” and current CUSA vice-president (student life) Alex Sirois is running for position of president for “United Carleton.”
Bergamini emphasized his experience in lobbying for past student issues including age caps for student bus passes.
Sirois highlighted his involvement with CUSA, starting as a bar-back at Oliver’s and now running for president.
Next came the candidates for vice-president (finance), incumbent Meera Chander for “United Carleton” and Katie Pagnello for “A Better Deal.”
Chander repeatedly focused on her experience at handling the budget of CUSA in the past.
Pagnello presented her experience as an intern at Proctor & Gamble and mentoring she received by a CA while working for the Children’s Aid Society. Pagnello said she will help make CUSA-run businesses more efficient and responsible, and Chander said she will continue to lobby on student issues.
The next candidates were running for vice-president (student issues). Adey Almohsen as an independent, Obed Okyere for “A Better Deal” and Dina Skvirsky for “United Carleton.” Almohsen highlighted issues related to international students and he said he will be more accountable to students.
Okyere said “students are disgusted with CUSA” and that he would focus on more effective representation of student issues.
Skvirsky called for a bottled-water-free campus and supported the renovation of Haven’s Books to make it more wheelchair accessible.
The next debate was for candidates running for vice-president (student life), Chris Infantry running with “United Carleton” and Aliza Virani with “A Better Deal.”
Infantry outlined his experience at running a great frosh week and other student events. He emphasized opening up the orientation week concert to all students and having more all-ages student events.
“I should not be throwing events that you’re not going to come to,” Infantry said.
Virani brought ideas for a Carleton homecoming, bigger and better concerts and more funding for Red Zone. She said the best way to change the quality of events on campus would be to replace the negotiator.
Electoral officer keeps a handle on question period
One audience member, Garnett Genius approached the microphone to ask a question regarding the safety of “stoplight parties,” which mediator and chief electoral officer Sagal Osman found to be aimed at one candidate, and asked Genius to abandon his question.
In a later question, another audience member approached the microphone to speak in protest of the denial of Genius’ question, but was removed for his lack of question.
“I am a Carleton student. I should be allowed to speak,” said the student.
The last leg of the candidates’ debate
Next came the candidates for vice-president (student services), Stephanie Brooks for “A Better Deal” and Sam Heaton for “United Carleton.”
Brooks emphasized creating more awareness on campus of the existence of student services while Heaton wanted to bring more space for the services CUSA offers.
Finally were the candidates for vice-president (internal), Khaldoon Bushnaq for United Carleton, Yulian Ihnatyuk as an independent and Emile Scheffel for A Better Deal.
Bushnaq talked about the importance of bringing together the campus and celebrating diversity.
Ihnatyuk presented the idea of outsourcing businesses to other companies to bring in more funding for clubs and societies.
“I keep hearing that things are impossible, that is never something you should hear from someone running for your student government,” Scheffel said. He also said he believed strongly in cutting executive salaries.
As heated as the debate was today and although the campaign continues to intensify, there was rumour of a dance-off later that night between candidates at the Ghana fundraiser where the mood will be a little more relaxed.