Two years after the fiery discourse of CNN's "Crossfire" left campus, political debate returned to the Media and Public Affairs Building last week.
Ten candidates running for Student Association president and executive vice president faced questions in the Jack Morton Auditorium Thursday night before a crowd of about 150 students. The five presidential candidates and five EVP candidates focused on the organization's future advocacy efforts and debated the merits of heavy previous involvement with the SA.
In preparation for Wednesday and Thursday's election, the candidates answered questions from panelists including two Hatchet editors and a writer for the Daily Colonial Web site. A senior Hatchet editor also moderated the two-hour forum. The event - the First Annual GW Hatchet-SA Candidates Debate - was taped for WRGW radio and GWTV.
SA President Lamar Thorpe welcomed the students to the auditorium by sharing his experiences during the past year.
"I have learned that the major job (of president) is an advocate for students," Thorpe, a senior, said. "The dirty secret is that 99 percent of time spent is representing students in Rice Hall."
The event was organized in part because of the absence of a formal debate in last year's election. Two years ago, the SA sponsored a debate with the National Honors Society. The Hatchet and the SA, which co-sponsored Thursday's forum, plan to hold the event every year.
The SA presidential candidates included juniors Marc Abanto, Michael Ray Huerta, Casey Pond, David "Tito" Wilkinson and sophomore Nicole Capp. The EVP candidates included juniors Elliot Bell-Krasner, Nick D'Addario, Chris Rotella, and sophomores Andrew Cooper and Brand Kroeger.
All of the candidates said the purpose of the SA is to advocate on behalf of the student body and work to improve communication between students and administrators.
"Advocacy, advocacy and more advocacy are the most important parts of the SA," said Cooper, who is running with Pond.
Ten candidates running for Student Association president and executive vice president faced questions in the Jack Morton Auditorium Thursday night before a crowd of about 150 students. The five presidential candidates and five EVP candidates focused on the organization's future advocacy efforts and debated the merits of heavy previous involvement with the SA.
In preparation for Wednesday and Thursday's election, the candidates answered questions from panelists including two Hatchet editors and a writer for the Daily Colonial Web site. A senior Hatchet editor also moderated the two-hour forum. The event - the First Annual GW Hatchet-SA Candidates Debate - was taped for WRGW radio and GWTV.
SA President Lamar Thorpe welcomed the students to the auditorium by sharing his experiences during the past year.
"I have learned that the major job (of president) is an advocate for students," Thorpe, a senior, said. "The dirty secret is that 99 percent of time spent is representing students in Rice Hall."
The event was organized in part because of the absence of a formal debate in last year's election. Two years ago, the SA sponsored a debate with the National Honors Society. The Hatchet and the SA, which co-sponsored Thursday's forum, plan to hold the event every year.
The SA presidential candidates included juniors Marc Abanto, Michael Ray Huerta, Casey Pond, David "Tito" Wilkinson and sophomore Nicole Capp. The EVP candidates included juniors Elliot Bell-Krasner, Nick D'Addario, Chris Rotella, and sophomores Andrew Cooper and Brand Kroeger.
All of the candidates said the purpose of the SA is to advocate on behalf of the student body and work to improve communication between students and administrators.
"Advocacy, advocacy and more advocacy are the most important parts of the SA," said Cooper, who is running with Pond.
