First, Greg Snow, who is running unopposed for the position of Treasurer was given a few minutes to present himself and answer questions.
In his opening statement, he remarked "SGA cannot forget who it represents, it is the voice of the student body, but all too often this is forgotten and [SGA becomes] an elitist group which hinders progress on campus. . .change in the organization and its leadership is needed and I hope to see the leaders viewed as accessible and as working with the students."
Snow feels that an electronic budget filing system should be developed and that he would work to ensure no cuts in student funds from the administration. He also feels that there are no major problems with the current budgeting system, except that in some cases the five percent cap placed on budgets is too restrictive.
When he was asked if he was ready to devote time to work for a better WPI, he responded with a quick "I am ready."
There was an announcement that Fiona Abrams had withdrawn her candidacy for Secretary, so the debates moved on to the race for Vice-President, where Rachel Butland and Kirsty Reidy are running.
Reidy was allowed the first opening statement and she said that she had seriously considered her run for the spot and that she had decided on Vice-President because she felt she could do the most good in that position. "I have looked for a long time at what SGA does and I came to the conclusion that changes need to be made. This includes rethinking the Senate orientation, being willing to take questions from the student body and doing more in the academic committees."
Rachel Butland then gave her opening statement where she mentioned her executive experience (she is currently SGA Secretary) and stated: "My major goal is communication." Later she would say that "the administration should be more open with the students and that SGA should act as a liaison to let the students know what is going on."
In answering some of the questions, Reidy stated that she did not see a lot of SGA members looking for student opinions. She brought up a proposal, which has gotten some attention within SGA, to assign senators 100 mailboxes and have them keep in touch with those students. She showed some disappointment that the idea had not been carried out and indicated she would do what she could to make sure that students were fairly represented.
Butland answered in reply to a question as to whether SGA served its purpose that it has "several purposes, including funding for organizations and that it has done well." When asked what her views on WPI's interaction with other colleges were she said: "Interaction is very important. . .WPI students should look at what's happening at other colleges and participate in activities there."
Reidy agreed that the other colleges have a lot to offer and that a lot more could be done to promote activities off campus. She said when asked another question regarding what could be done about the apathy which seems so prevalent on campus that she was "not sure what could be done, but I haven't seen SGA doing much. . .I'd like to make WPI a place where students want to be."
Butland pointed out that maintaining open communication with the GSO was a duty of the Vice-President and that SGA could do more to work with graduate students. Reidy stressed the importance of the SGA committees and mentioned that they were seldom heard from by SGA.
In her closing statement, Butland talked about the fact that "SGA decisions affect every student at WPI and that her goal was to get all of the senators to listen to the students."
Reidy stated that she had "witnessed problems within SGA" and that she wants to "get in there and make changes so that SGA can be more in touch with students."
The next debate was among the Presidential candidates, Ryan Daly, Cathy Connelly and Lexie Chutoransky.
Daly mentioned in his opening statement "I don't like speaking at people, I like speaking with people." He went on to relate that he walked into the SGA office on the first day of school in his freshman year and went on to work on the Community Council for a Spirit Day. He mentioned his disappointment at the low turn-out for campus events and that he feels he can motivate people to make a difference. "I think SGA should work with other organizations on campus, such as the IFC, SAS and Skull" to make positive changes.
Connelly was given the opportunity to speak next and she said that she also had been involved in SGA since her freshman year and that "It hurts when people say that SGA does nothing. . .the only thing SGA has done in the past three years is get better."
Chutoransky then said that she is in thirteen different organizations and that "who you are is what you are." She mentioned that she comes in contact with many people and that her experiences can help SGA. "I can act as a liaison with the community."
All three candidates were asked for their views regarding the role of SGA and their goals for the coming year. Ryan Daly was given the first chance to speak. He indicated that SGA should improve the quality of life for all students. He also said that he had no single goal but that his goal would be to work for what the student body wanted.
Connelly said that she felt SGA should be the "advocate for the students' needs" and that SGA should be available to the students to help them solve their problems. Her goal continued in this theme, relating a need for better communication and a more active role in the freshmen orientation.
Chutoransky said that SGA does a lot behind the scenes, but they should play a larger role in getting their own message out. She also said that SGA should do everything that it can to remain informed of what happens on-campus. Her goal is to "keep SGA on its feet and bring the word 'student' back to SGA."
All of the candidates felt that Greek organizations (of which all three are members) offer a chance at a richer social life and that independents should take advantage of the programs which are offered currently. This does not seem to imply that nothing will be done to enrich the social life on-campus, but rather it is a message to get students involved in what's going on now.
They all seemed to have similar feelings in regard to the student center too, feeling that it would be nice to have a place to congregate but that it will not solve the social situation at WPI. They all seemed to share the feeling that SGA should do more to promote itself.
Daly brought up Cathy Connelly's idea of assigning mailboxes and stated that SGA should do more to follow through with its plans.
Connelly pointed out that the Publicity Committee does a good job of getting the word out and that SGA should "get personal" with the student body.
Chutoransky stated that senators should go to other groups' meetings and find out what's going on as well as publicize.
When asked what SGA had done in the past year to make life for students better, Daly stated "I'd like to list things, but I cannot. We have the Tech Carnival. . .but I can't think of anything definitive."
Chutoransky also stated that a lot hadn't been done but that SGA members do work hard.
Connelly said that SGA had spent a good deal of time investigating Maple and trying to get faculty advisors to advise their students. She also mentioned that SGA had worked to remind the administration of the importance of the WPI Plan.
All the candidates seemed discouraged at the lack of follow-through that SGA sometimes demonstrates. When asked about a particular problem which they had pursued on their own for SGA, only Connelly had an answer. She stated that investigating Maple, which seemed to put a lot of stress on the freshman class, led SGA to form a focus group to study the problem.
When asked what influence he would have as President, Ryan Daly said that a President "does not influence people, instead they look for respect. Presidents command with a power from within."
Chutoransky said that one of the most important functions of SGA is to bring people together so that they can voice their opinions and take action. In her closing statement, she said that she has seen many changes at WPI and that SGA needs to adapt.
Connelly said that she was open to any questions, and that she finds accessibility to be a personal goal.
Daly ended the night saying that it was too bad that so few people had attended the debates and that he would like to see more interest in SGA from the students.