In the last debate before the Student Government election, both parties agreed that UF’s Asian-American students deserve more attention.
Candidates for Student Body vice president and Student Body treasurer debated in front of 60 students Monday night at the event sponsored by the Asian American Student Union.
Rafael Yaniz, the Student Alliance party candidate for Student Body treasurer, said his party has a plan to eliminate wasteful spending and wants to allocate the money saved to student groups like the AASU.
Virlany Taboada, the Unite Party’s candidate for Student Body treasurer, said that, under the Unite Party, SG took money from Accent and SG Productions to give to AASU Kaleidoscope Month events.
Yaniz said it was a Student Alliance party member who pushed for money reallocation.
“We want to be your friend, your ally and your advocate,” Yaniz said.
Both groups proposed more meeting space for the group.
Marcus Dixon, the Unite Party’s candidate for Student Body vice president, said the renovated Reitz Union would have a multicultural center with room for the group to meet.
“We could’ve done a better job in the last year,” Dixon said. “But under my administration I want to increase communication with all communities, especially the Asian-American community.”
Abner Yang, an AASU member, said he was leaving the debate the same way he came –— undecided. He said he plans on examining both parties’ platforms on their Web sites before voting.
