Fierce replies and a lively moderator sum up the UF 2013 Student Government Debate on Wednesday.
The auditorium became a battleground between the Students Party and its outside perspectives versus the in-house experience of the Swamp Party. Candidates answered and rebutted issues like tuition, campus safety, SG transparency, election reform, budget and diversity.
Students Party presidential candidate Johnny Castillo introduced himself first by telling the crowd about his history of supporting the Unite Party. Unite Party was a dishonest party, he said, that predated the Swamp Party and disillusioned students.
“It is in my belief that all Gators should be proud of their Student Government,” he said.
Castillo outlined his party’s platform, which includes a merit-based SG and tuition increase opposition.
Swamp Party presidential candidate Christina Bonarrigo fired back with her resume, which includes her position as Senate President and four years as a Student Senator. She detailed the initiatives she helped pass in the Senate, including the Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol app, 24/5 library and water bottle refill stations.
“You’ve seen personal record versus no record,” she said. “That speaks volumes in itself.”
Vice presidential candidates Jenna Goldman of the Students Party and Joselyn Rivas of the Swamp Party spoke about the role of SG Cabinet. Goldman argued that some cabinets should be meshed to make the system more efficient. Rivas said the cabinets have already been consolidated.
With an $18 million budget at stake, funding was hotly debated between the treasurer candidates. Students Party candidate Billy Farrell suggested cutting SG officials’ perks, which he said cost $3,000. Jayce Victor of the Swamp Party argued the perks were necessary.
Both parties discussed the “One More Block” initiative for SNAP and soft bar closings.
Goldman said SNAP employees were against the initiative. She said One More Block would exhaust the four vans that serve the existing area. Bonarrigo, who supported both initiatives in the Senate, said these ideas will help the Student Body.
Mechanical engineering freshman Marcel Vial, 18, said the Students Party presented itself eloquently.
“Their ideas came through clearly,” he said.
UF economics junior Kevin Persad, 20, tweeted a question about the Innovation Academy and how its students can get more involved in campus life.
“Student Government should be in the forefront of this, and they’re really not,” he said.
Contact Colleen Wright at cwright@alligator.org.
Students Party treasurer candidate Billy Farrell speaks at the UF Student Government debate Wednesday night. Professor Mike Foley served as the debate moderator.
