Candidates debate at Commons

The three presidential candidates for the Monroe Park Campus Student Government Association on Monday night addressed issues such as campus safety and textbook fees in what some say was the most-attended SGA debate in recent memory.

More than 100 students showed up at the University Student Commons to watch the match between candidates Ali Faruk, Tyler Bass and Bruce Vann. Geoffrey Young, associate dean of student affairs for the VCU Medical Center campus, served as moderator of the event.

“I think this is a symptom of all the work we’ve been doing – having this many people come out,” said Eddie O’Leary, the current president of SGA.

The candidates, who all currently serve in SGA, answered Young’s questions with little dispute against their opponents’ responses. They all expressed support for more funding for campus-police programs and 24-hour visitation in residence halls at VCU.

Faruk, a fourth-year sociology major who joined SGA his freshman year, often referred to his previous experience in student government when he answered questions. His term includes serving as a senator for two years as well as being elected the first chief justice for the Monroe Park Campus SGA.

“I think when you look at candidates, it’s important to look at what they’ve done in the past as an indicator for what they will do in the future,” Faruk said in his opening statement.

Bass, who joined SGA in November, frequently elicited laughter from the audience.

When an audience member asked the candidates of their qualifications to run for president, Bass used an anecdote about spending his childhood rummaging through old case files of his father, a lawyer, when he was supposed to be cleaning instead. He said the experience helped him understand concepts such as workers’ compensation.

But Bass turned serious when discussing issues such as poverty in the city.

“When we see what the city should not be, we become more aware of what it can be,” he said. “Richmond has done so much good in our lives.”

In his opening statement, Vann, a third-year business-management major who joined SGA his sophomore year, said he hopes students think about who would best represent them in front of the Board of Visitors and City Council.

“This is a big decision,” he said. “It’s not just necessarily a popularity contest.”

Vann often agreed with his opponents’ responses and admitted he liked giving simple answers.

“I’m not much for talk, but anybody that knows me knows I’m a hard worker,” he said in his opening statement.

All of the candidates said they supported a bill proposing to fund a campus safety center and a grant program for police departments in Virginia. Young mentioned the death of Taylor Behl as one of the reasons for this year’s heightened campus-safety concerns.

The candidates, however, proposed different methods to address student concerns if elected into office.

Bass advocated the creation of a Web site students can access to view budget decisions made by SGA. This would allow students to see how their money is being spent, he said. Vann said Facebook, a social networking Web site, would be the easiest way to reach students.

Unlike his opponents, Faruk opted for face-to-face contact. He said he would personally visit student-organization meetings and classrooms.

“Person-to-person contact is how you increase outreach,” he said. “The campus is big, but not that big.”

After the debate, O’Leary commended the candidates.

“I think the questions were fairly difficult, which is good because if you want to be president, I think you should be able to answer tough questions,” he said.

Though he was reluctant to name the candidate who presented the weakest answers, O’Leary said Faruk emerged as the winner of the debate.

“He, by far and away, has the most knowledge and experience,” he said, adding he is pleased with the debate’s turnout regardless of the election’s outcome.

Mark Henin, a junior biology major, said he benefited from attending the debate.

“I know a lot more about the candidates than I would ever see from a little flier,” he said.