The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

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Presidential candidates sell their platforms at debate

Originally Published March 27, 2007

The Associated Students Presidential and Vice Presidential debate took place Monday night at the Satellite Student Union’s Shoshone Room, where the candidates present vied for the last word in an evening that was full of information, promises and veiled hostility.

Presidential hopeful and current A.S. Director of Finance Adam Haverstock was asked what he plans to do for clubs and organizations, and then was told that talk is cheap and he was responding like a “bullshitter.” He responded that he knew that talk was cheap, and said, “My actions are going to show.”

President Adam Salgado took the opportunity to remind the audience that he had experience and stated, “I’m not b.s.ing.”

The “Make A Connection” slate was asked by the audience how they would fix “all the damage that was created by Haverstock and Salgado.” Bethany Tucker, who is running for vice president, responded, “As someone who has not been involved with A.S., I feel it is important to get in touch with those who are not normally involved.”

The role of senators became one of the most debated topics, as each candidate expressed what they felt was the role, responsibility and ability of a senator.

Haverstock said he felt there was a number of positions that could be eliminated and moved to standing committees.

“The Senate needs more support, more motivation,” he said.

Salgado said he felt that the senators already were ambassadors, and presidential candidate Miguel Segura focused on the idea of getting the student population involved with A.S. as early as possible.

When asked how they would find people to become senators, Salgado said there was a need to “ask people who are already active in A.S.”

Salgado stated that, if elected, he would want his cabinet ready by June 1, and he has already thought of some people who would be ideal for the positions that will be available. Later in the debate, he changed his stance and said, “There’s always room to change. Never promise someone a position.”

Haverstock saw the idea of seeking out senators from the concept of looking at more than a resume, and said, “We can teach you to be a director, but we can’t teach you how to be motivated, how to be passionate.”

Segura agreed with Haverstock’s statement and said, “I don’t want to judge just by seeing them.”

The issue of whether to pay senators in the future was extremely important to all candidates. Salgado had not yet reached an opinion on supporting stipends for senators, while Haverstock and Segura both stated the need for senators to be compensated for the amount of work they do each week.

Advisement, one of Salgado’s projects during the current school year, was important to all candidates, and their feelings ranged from being pleased with the progress made so far to being unsupportive of some of the work.

Salgado reiterated his intention of making academic advisement available through instant messenger, and Haverstock said, “Advisement is not something that can be solved in one term. We need to work on the programs set in place.”

Segura said he felt that advisement through IM would not benefit the students, and stated, “The one thing I don’t like is that it takes away that one-on-one (atmosphere).”

When it comes to interpretive services for the deaf, Salgado admitted, “We don’t provide interpretive services for weekly meetings. They shouldn’t be held back because we can’t fund that.”

Haverstock asserted that services for the deaf should be part of the university budget, and vice president hopeful Tucker agreed that the university should take responsibility for some of the funding for the deaf.

Dina Cervantes and her running mate, Monica McNeeley, are running on the slate “Vote for P.E.D.R.O.,” but were not present for the debate.

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