To Karina Barbazuk, it’s important for students to ask Student Government candidates questions ahead of Spring elections.
“A lack of an outlet like that would be a loss,” the 18-year-old UF biology freshman said.
SG is accepting questions to ask executive candidates from Access Party and Impact Party at the SG debate Feb. 8. The free event, held at the University Auditorium at 6 p.m., will be hosted by SG, the UF Supervisor of Elections and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.
“The purpose of the debate is to provide a public forum for the candidates to discuss their visions for UF and to educate the student body,” Erica Baker, the UF supervisor of elections, wrote in email.
About 800 students can attend the debate, she said. Baker is working with Action SG to livestream the event.
Students can submit questions about the parties’ platforms or specific questions to candidates, she said. Questions can be submitted in-person at the SG office or online.
Marna Weston, a UF debate coach, will be the moderator.
Kevin Baron, a civic engagement coordinator of the Graham Center, said the center can help provide a nonpartisan platform for the debate.
“We want to provide an avenue for the candidates to present themselves and for students to be able to ask them questions and hear their responses,” he said.
During Fall semester, a debate between the two parties was canceled due to time restraints and lack of communication, said Emma Humphries, a civic engagement coordinator of the Graham Center.
Humphries said she was approached to be a moderator, and she agreed. But after being told SG wouldn’t formally sponsor the debate, she said she had second thoughts.
“I tend to be supportive of anything that students want to do, but this just didn’t feel right,” she said. “Once I knew this wasn’t an officially recognized SG debate, my gut said, ‘nope.’”
Baron said the center’s goal is to let candidates have a chance to present themselves to students and for students to make an informed decision when they vote.
“It’s a real and honest debate,” he said.
Contact Melissa Gomez at mgomez@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @MelissaGomez004.
