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The Beacon Recommends Voting Guide 2011
ENDORSED: PATRICK O’KEEFE (P) AND SANJEEV UDHNANI (VP)
Based on the answers given in their Beacon Election Questionnaire submission and debate performance, The Beacon proudly endorses Patrick O’Keefe for 2011-2012 SGC-MMC President and his running mate Sanjeev Udhnani.
As outlined in their answers in the questionnaire, which was sent to all SGA candidates on both campuses, we believe that O’Keefe and Udhnani have a clear, feasible vision for improving the student body experience. We find their stance on improving infrastructure and career services utilization is proof that they are well-tuned to the needs of students at the University.
Furthermore, their emphasis on outreach at the collegiate and the high school level shows that they are looking to the future of the University in terms of expanding its influence and supporting student government transparency. We support the idea of enlisting student volunteers to actively visiting high schools with tutoring programs in order to foster enrollment growth and increase the University’s positive influence in the community.
As for their debate performance, we feel that both O’Keefe and Udhnani dispalyed professional, gentlemanly conduct in addition to handling questioning well, along with clear exlanations for their ideas. We are especially pleased to see that their conduct remained appropriate despite pressure from their opponents.
ALINA GONZALEZ (P) AND KEVIN GONZALEZ (VP)
Alina Gonzalez and Kevin Gonzalez failed to meet our expectations and therefore, will not receive our support. As per the answers in our questionnaire, some of which were omitted, we feel that Alina and Kevin failed to adequately answer the questions they had to consider.
For example, although Alina and Kevin outlined what they felt were the five most critical concerns of students, they did not explain how their campaign would address those concerns. They also danced around the question regarding use of their discretionary fund.
Furthermore, we feel that their plan to increase an already bloated Senate to 50 representatives, failure to fully address the issue of student participation and their inclusion of an unnecessary and possibly fiscally irresponsible Rent-A-Bike program will ultimately do nothing to improve student life.
Unfortunately, having a cheering section did not mask their poor debate skills. Much like their questionnaire submission, their responses lacked substance and clarity. Furthermore, their unprofessional and condescending debate demeanor, both in spoken word and in body language, did nothing to save their poor debate prep. Most notably, Alina and Kevin resorted to eye-rolling and grimacing at their opponents’ rebuttal and resorted to sarcastic commentary when given the opportunity to take the lead in answering some of the questions posed to the candidates.
We are especially disappointed that, as the current Vice President of SGC-MMC, Alina Gonzalez failed to uphold the high standards of conduct expected of a representative of our student body. If this is the attitude these candidates will carry with them while representing us, we would much rather that they did not.
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