Despite more than three months of planning, the Freshman Leadership Council canceled the Student Government Debate.
The FLC has hosted the annual debate since 2006. However, because only Swamp Party has a full qualifying ticket this year, the debate will not happen.
Maria Galindo, the council’s vice chair woman of public relations, said the debate is a long-standing tradition.
“The event was designed to provide an environment for the executive tickets to argue their platforms in an unbiased setting,” she wrote in an email.
Still, Galindo said she believes each party will compensate for the debate cancellation.
“While in the past the debate has served as an outlet for the executive candidates from each party to communicate their platform,” she said, “I am confident that in light of the circumstances the leaders from each party will make use of alternative methods, like social media, to communicate their message to the Student Body.”
Stephanie Kreitzer, former presidential candidate for the Taco Libre Party, said she is disappointed with the decision to cancel the debate.
“I think it’s a shame to cancel a tradition that FLC and Student Government has had for years,” she said. “I think an election without a debate is a disservice to students in the university. They should be able to hear from both sides to make an informed decision.”
Susan Webster, the Swamp Party spokeswoman, said the party still wants to debate, but it plans to address student questions via a Twitter campaign by Cory Yeffet, the party’s candidate for Student Body president.
“We would prefer the opportunity to display to the students what the Swamp Party and its candidates have to offer,” she said. “It is unfortunate that our willing and capable candidates are unable to debate and speak to the Student Body about these critical issues.”
Additionally, on Tuesday night, the Elections Commission heard two complaints filed by Supervisor of Elections Justin Hoover. One was brought against the Swamp Party, and the other against the Students Party.
In the Swamp complaint, Hoover said the candidate, who was not identified, failed to turn in a qualifying form to the Supervisor of Elections by the deadline.
Swamp Party President Agassy Rodriguez said the party didn’t realize the Supervisor of Elections office didn’t have the right documents.
The candidate will not be on the ballot because they failed to qualify properly.
Hoover presented the second complaint against the Students Party for failing to turn in weekly financial paperwork by the Monday deadline.
The commission ruled to issue warnings in both cases.
[Staff Writer Kelcee Griffis contributed to this report. A version of this story ran on page 1 on 2/12/2014 under the headline "Candidate issues cancel SG debate"]
