The Southern

Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: News

Jessica Reidling, Matt Habib and Bryant Manning, juniors, answered questions about campus-wide issues during the SGA presidential candidate debate last Monday. The three spoke on their views about student life, going green and increasing student involvement in campus activities.

The Student Government Association held a presidential debate March 17 in the Lakeview Room. Participating in the debate were candidates Bryant Manning, Matt Habib, and Jessica Reidling. The debate was the first in many years and showcased the candidate's talents and platforms.

The debate format gave each candidate a two minute opening, followed by a series of nine questions which they each had one minute to answer, and lastly a closing remark of two minutes. Mindy Renew, the director of student activities, moderated the debate.

With the first opening statement, Manning addressed the continued development of the Quality Enhancement Program, "Student Awareness Generates Action." As the president of SGA, Manning said, he would push SAGA as an important aspect of the FSC community. In addition, he wants to address the image of SGA on campus, improving its communication with both students and faculty.

Following Manning, Habib stressed the important of efficiency in his campaign. Habib said he wants the student body's resources used efficiently. In his opening statement, he focused particularly on the awkwardness of the swipe system. He proposes that the extra money not spent in a total swipe-for instance on a small coffee at Tutu's-should be transferred to Moc Bucks to be used elsewhere.

Reidling gave the final opening statement, addressing the importance of change at FSC. With a large résumé from involvement already in SGA and ACE, Reidling also emphasized her experience and readiness for the position. Reidling said she wants to move FSC forward while still remembering the great history of the institution.

The first question of the evening, "What would you do to increase student involvement on campus?" addressed an important issue on campus. Manning responded first, stating that he would set the example for the student body by being a motivated president, which he felt would then motivate the students.

Habib said that students would be more involved on campus if they felt more a part of the Lakeland community. Thus, he suggested that students get involved in the community, and that the school should facilitate opportunities for such engagement.

Reidling, drawing on her prior SGA experience, said that student involvement starts within SGA and permeates downward from the Senate, to the House, and to the students.

When asked how they would make FSC a greener campus, all the candidates had plans. Reidling, a member of the Green Committee in the SGA Senate, stated that the school is already working hard towards being green. She wants to involve FSC in dialogue with the state and other institutions about how to be greener.

Manning stressed that the students need to want to go green. He wants the students to be able to see what they are saving and how it is improving the campus.

Habib said that the school has already done a great job going green, but there are still areas for improvement. He said he wants to give every incoming student a cloth bag to use at the Moc Mart, gradually eliminating the use of plastic bags.

As for improving the campus next year, both Manning and Reidling stressed the importance of school spirit. While both agreed that the FSC Fight Song and Moc Madness had potential, they felt that their full potential had yet to be realized.

Manning said he wants the faculty involved in planning school spirit events.

Habib said he wants to improve technology on campus, most importantly by making the entire campus wireless. Additionally, he wants to increase the usefulness of 24-hour spaces on campus and perhaps make the Jackson Religion Building open 24 hours as well.

In their closing remarks, each candidate was asked what they wanted their legacy to be when they left FSC. Habib again stressed that the campus needs to go out into the community in service projects. In addition he said he wants the campus to have more of a sense of the larger community we are in, namely Lakeland.

Reidling said she wants new traditions brought to campus. She wants to come back in 15 or 20 years, she said, and see that the students this coming year really made a difference on campus-starting new traditions and keeping old ones.

Manning said he wants his legacy to be the people who come after him, the next leaders of FSC. He wants to motivate the current leaders and the new leaders of SGA to be the Cornerstone, along with other student leaders on campus.





Video by Linda Johnsen and Olando Wilson

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools