On Monday, the GW Hatchet and the Student Association co-hosted the fifth annual debate with the candidates for president and executive vice president of the Student Association. The standing-room-only event, which was held in the Jack Morton Auditorium from 7:30 until after 10 p.m., featured five executive vice presidential candidates and seven presidential candidates.
The candidates discussed everything from Gelman Library to LGBT issues to study spaces on campus.
Jason Lifton, president of the Student Association, offered introductory remarks at the event, and Lauren French, editor in chief of the Hatchet, introduced the panelists and the debate rules and delivered closing remarks.
GW Today caught up with Ms. French and Mr. Lifton and asked them about how this year’s debate compared with past ones and what its most memorable moments were.
GW Today: How many SA debates have you been to? How did this year’s SA-Hatchet debate compare to years past?
Lauren French (GW Hatchet): This was my third Student Association debate. Each year has its strengths and weakness, but I think this debate was pretty on par with years past. The audience was similar in size and engagement, students had ample time to ask questions and I think some great dialogue occurred. Monday night did go a little long, which is something we want to work on for the sixth debate.
Jason Lifton (Student Association): I have been to four debates in my time at GW. I participated in two of them as a candidate, and I just observed the other two. There have been years when there has been more than one debate (WRGW, Hatchet, Black Student Union). This year’s was very interesting to listen to. It was a great to hear all of the candidates speak their mind in a public and open forum. I always find it is hard to make enough time for everyone to explain all of their ideas, simply because there are so many candidates. In terms of the debate itself, there was good dialogue. Although only one person wins, hopefully the ideas from all of the candidates can be adopted as we elect a new president.
GW Today: How do you react to there being two women candidates for executive vice president (though all the presidential candidates are men)?
Jason Lifton (Student Association): It's a shame that no women stepped up to run for president. It is something that we struggle with almost every year. It's interesting to see this trend, because so many of the most valued members of our team are women. The executive cabinet has a much broader representation of women than any other branch.
Lauren French (GW Hatchet): Having a diverse pool of candidates is always a positive thing for the student body, so I think everyone can appreciate that two women are running for executive vice president. When the candidate pool is diverse, students have a greater chance of voting for a student they feel connected with, which is a good thing for GW. Generally, fewer women participate in the SA than men. We did a story on the issue two years ago, and the former female SA members said that women often run student organizations rather than vie for top SA leadership positions.
GW Today: At least one of the candidates was running on a platform that encouraged the dissolution of the SA. Do you think that’s reflective of a larger feeling of the student body?
Lauren French (GW Hatchet): The candidate feels very strongly that the SA is not the best body to represent students. The candidate has the right to want a different organization just like all the other candidates have the right to want to keep the SA intact. As for the campaign being reflective of the larger student body – I guess we will see Thursday evening when the winners are announced.
Jason Lifton (Student Association): I was very sad to see that candidate was running on the platform of abolishing the SA, especially because the individual has served on the SA Senate and been a member of the Joint Elections Committee (both branches of the SA).
I think that the platform is based on the fact that the candidate is poorly informed. If you follow the individual’s blog, you will see that many of the issues cited were from the mid- to late 80s and 90s. While the SA is not always the most efficient organization on the planet, it certainly does more good than harm. We have had a ton of success this year, and I’m confused as to why someone who’s been so involved in years past would go so far out of the way to try and abolish the organization. I also feel as if the candidate really lacks any good idea for how to make the organization better.
GW Today: What does it mean for the SA to be collaborating on an event with the Hatchet?
Jason Lifton (Student Association): This event is a clear demonstration of the strength of the two organizations. It is the Hatchet’s job to keep the campus informed, and it’s the SA’s job to reach out to students for feedback. The debate was the perfect intersection of these missions, and it’s a great event that the Hatchet and the SA continue to co-sponsor each year.
Lauren French (GW Hatchet): The Hatchet and the SA have similar goals when it comes to the annual debate: give the candidates a platform to answer questions, give students the opportunity to make an informed vote and give administrators a chance to meet the candidates. It makes sense when we have similar goals for the event that we co-host.
As for the Hatchet hosting a campus event, we’re part of the GW community too. Our masthead proudly states that the paper is here to “serve the GW community.” The Hatchet views the debate as one of the ways we follow through with that promise.
GW Today: What were a few of the most important things that you took out of the debate?
Lauren French (GW Hatchet): The most interesting thing I found during the debate is how diverse and passionate the two candidate pools are. There are different views on the SA, the role of the executive vice president and president and what the most pressing campus issues are. This gives the student body a range of choices, which is good for campus growth.
Jason Lifton (Student Association): I think that we took away a whole bunch of new and exciting ideas from the candidates’ platforms. There were some new things that were presented that we have never heard before.
GW Today: Mr. Lifton, one final question for you, if we may. When you introduced the event, you joked that this was the first event you didn’t need to worry about the Hatchet’s coverage. Are you worried about the GW Today story?
Jason Lifton (Student Association): Nothing makes me happier than when GW Today comes to cover our events. Not only am I always excited to see the reporting team, but GW Today provides a great opportunity to share our stories with the entire university -- students, faculty and alumni alike.