For the first time in Associated Students of Madison election history, the Maverick Student Law Club granted students the opportunity to hear representatives of the three major parties discuss their positions on student issues Monday evening.
Pete McCabe, debate organizer and representative of the Third Wave slate, said the purpose of the debate was to familiarize students with the candidates beyond the numerous campus chalkings and editorials.
Moderated by WSUM news director Alexandra Gekas, each party representative had three minutes to answer six questions on the party’s campaign goals, perceived effectiveness of ASM, the segregated-fees opt-out policy and the party’s campaign goals.
On the subject of current controversies within ASM, each candidate suggested solutions to its ineffectiveness.
Pete McCabe said ASM has failed to offer new programs to improve student life.
“Over the past three years, I have heard about the ASM bus pass and SAFEride/SAFEwalk,” he said. “The focus on priorities is the problem.”
McCabe said that the addition of the Third Wave Party is important because it will increase the likelihood of political debate in ASM.
“Now ASM student members walk into open forum with their votes already decided on issues,” he said. “The Third Wave Party breaks up the majority, forcing people to come to the table together and talk.”
Phil Ejercito, representative of the Student Alliance for Madison party and the Committee For Using Creative Tactics organization, emphasized the need to remove incompetent leaders who break the oath of office.
“ASM needs to restore respect, and then students will respect the ASM,” Ejercito said. “We have to return to what the ASM is here for — grassroots activism from the bottom up, with students and citizens being able to voice their opinions to leaders higher up.”
ASM incumbent and Badger Party member Jacqueline Helmrick said ASM’s fundamental problem this year was the lack of effective communication between the 33 ASM council members, the ASM leaders and the student body.
“It is important to conduct open dialogue among ASM members and students and together work toward common goals,” Helmick said. “The ASM has been so mainstream that we haven’t addressed issues on campus as a whole.”
Kevin Otten, current ASM representative and 2003 independent candidate, expressed his frustration with the informal, last-minute planning of the debates, which excluded independents from participating.
Otten believes the debates should seek to promote fair competition among candidates.
“I understand it is hard to have 30 people debate all at once. However, there are alternatives that allow everyone to speak for a shorter duration of time,” Otten said.
