E-board slates face first test at debate

With one week left until Boston University Student Union elections, the three slates competing for the new Executive Board participated in the first of two debates last night in Morse Auditorium.

In introducing his slate, New Blood presidential candidate Jason Nadler indicated concerns about the current student government and polled the audience of less than 100 people. In doing so, he discovered only four were in attendance out of personal interest or concern.

“Students don’t think of the Student Union as an outlet,” he said. “It is a sleeping giant that has the potential to unite and give back tradition to our school.”

The Student Union is BU’s undergraduate student government, split into three main branches and five other governing bodies. Chosen by the student body, the E-board acts as a liaison between University administration and various student groups and organizations.

The Perpetual Motion slate, headed by Matthew D’Olimpio and running on the motto of a constant movement and motion as one, introduced themselves as “kids who have served [the students] in any way possible.” Their platform includes tracking where Undergraduate Student Fee monies are being distributed as well as the continuously debated guest policy in BU housing.

Real, the third prospective E-board, brought up the students’ overall lack of information on things happening within the University, and how they are unable to become fully involved when they aren’t presented with complete information.

“Our vision comes from a collaboration of nine students,” Real presidential candidate Michael Moffo said, adding the slate aims to address the question of realism and what to do about solving ignorance.

The three groups were each allowed five minutes to introduce their members and state their main platforms before answering questions from a four-person panel. The panel was comprised of Allen Ward, Director of the Student Activities Organization and the Community Service Center; Leila Saad, Assistant Dean of Students; Jennifer Sutherland, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and current president of the E-board; and Rebecca Duran, a junior in the College of Communication and CAS and editor of The Daily Free Press.

The evening’s first panel question, posed by Ward, addressed the issue of excess money the Student Union Allocations Board cannot give out because it is already promised to groups that fail to use it.

All three slates agreed that there needs to be increased communication between the Student Union and those individual groups, but while Real proposed more student government meetings, Perpetual Motion brought up the usefulness of websites. New Blood suggested using e-mail newsletters to keep all groups up to date on financial matters.

When asked what real problems are most vital to the BU community, the responses of the slates varied. Perpetual Motion addressed the fact BU does not provide mandatory rape crisis training for Resident Assistants, and said they plan to propose increased support from outside resources like the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, potentially making them reachable by BU blue phones.

None of the three slates heaped praise on this year’s Student Union E-board. New Blood claimed they “have not seen a lot going on,” and Real — the slate on which current Executive Vice President Marshalee Ducille is vying for the same position — found fault in the individuality of the board instead of needed collaboration.

The three slates were also asked to note their greatest strengths and weaknesses as a group. Perpetual Motion, reiterating their motto, is proud of “coming together into a cohesive unit … and learning to move as one” since they began working together over month ago.

Members of New Blood, who have met as a group about eight times, have close individual ties as well. However, the fact all but one member is “new blood” can be a weakness as well as a strength, Nadler said.

“We are willing to make changes, … but we all admit that we have a lot to learn,” he said.

And Caroline Preis of Real, which has met regularly for the past three weeks, stated their slate’s diversity of student leaders from varying outlets in the University makes them a viable contender for the new E-board.

The slates agreed serious changes are imperative in the Student Union and the way BU students respond to their representatives. Although focusing on different interests, all three slates unanimously agreed student involvement as a whole needs improvement, and having a good turnout for the election next week would be a start.

Before the next official debate, representatives from the slates will appear on WTBU Thursday night. Next Tuesday, at 7 p.m. in Morse Auditorium, students will be able to ask questions of the slates. Elections begin the following morning at 9 a.m.