The Michigan Times

Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Campus

2008 SGC Debate from Michigan Times on Vimeo.

Tensions were high as the Student Government Council presidential debate took place last Tuesday. The debate was held on the third floor of the UCEN and was between president hopeful Owen Agho and vice president hopeful Nic Josey for the R.E.A.L. Party and president hopeful Greg Schulkey and vice president hopeful Ian Mays for the NEW Dynamic Party. The debate was moderated by Wade Merrill, coordinator of elections.

Questions were asked by Merrill on behalf of the commission and also by four select students who had previously submitted questions. The four students whose questions were chosen got to ask their question at the podium and also received $25 to use towards food vendors in the UPAV.

The debate started with a coin flip to determine who would go first, which was won by the NEW Dynamic party.
Drama began to unfold the minute the first student question was asked.

"How exactly will you bridge the gap between our community campus life and the students of residential life," asked Greek Council President Amanda Forsmark.

Agho responded that even though he was involved with campus life now, originally he "didn't want to come to this university." Mays responded later that he "unlike Owen" was "proud to be here."

A second student question, by Douglas Snyder, asked "If you were told by the schools administration to take an action that would negatively affect a small population of students either financially or emotionally, how would you address it?"
Before answering, Agho rebutted the previous statement by Mays.

"I am proud to be here at the university. That is why I'm up here on stage. That's why I have been working to help students."
He also said that the "first and foremost" purpose of student government was to advocate for the students.

The third question, by student Chris Kelly, drew an excited response from the crowd.
"How do you feel about the affirmative action bake sale?"

Hoots and hollers erupted from the crowd as Mays responded, saying that even though the NEW Dynamic party was supportive of free speech, it also "carries a responsibility to be reasonable to other people that you interact with in a community."

He went on to say that the actions by the campus group Young Americans for Freedom, who organized the bake sale, "was not conducive to creating a discussion." He then pointed a finger towards YAF treasurer Jonathon Ettinger saying, "If you are concerned about that you need only to look at Jonathon Ettinger, who is wearing a R.E.A.L. Party shirt."

Ettinger responded loudly by saying that he was not part of the debate, which drew a response by Merrill, who asked that there be no more audience outbursts.

A commission question asked about the lack of consistent bylaws and policies within student government from year to year. Mays responded, going on the offensive again, saying the R.E.A.L. party "use[s] their positions to create advantages for themselves."

Other issues debated included the sale of football tickets to UM-Flint and Dearborn students and ways to connect student life between the main campus and the William S. White building.

Crowd heckling caused some distraction during the debates, such as when Campus Activities Board President Jermaine Brown called Schulkey a "liar" for saying he reached out to student organizations.

"The reasoning behind my statement was based solely on the fact that I don't know him," said Brown afterward. "The fact that he's running for president of the Student Government Council and I've never met him and I'm the president of the Campus Activities Board, that bothers me."

Some students were concerned that NEW Dynamic vice presidential candidate, Mays, seemed to do more of the debating than Schulkey, while others felt that Agho should have promptly handled his supporters who were heckling.

The voting polls will open at 8 a.m. on April 8 and close at 10 p.m. on April 9. The on-campus polling locations will be on the third floor of the UCEN and on the first floor of the William S. White Building. Students can also vote online by going to www.umflint.edu/elections.

Managing Editor John McKay contributed notes to this report.




Junior Laura Adam offers her concerns following the debate.

Commissioner of Elections Wade Merrill offers his take on the debates.


Campus Activities Board President Jermaine Brown explains why he heckled NEW Dynamic Party candidate Greg Schulkey.

NEW Dynamic Party Presidential hopeful Greg Schulkey responds to accusations by Campus Activities Board President Jermaine Brown that the NDP campaign did not reach out to student organizations.



Presidential candidate Owen Agho responds to the debates.

Vice Presidential candidate Nic Josey responds to the debates.




Presidential candidate Greg Schulkey responds to the debates.

Vice Presidential candidate Ian Mays responds to the debates.


Disclosures: Jonathan Ettinger, cited in the article as a member of Young Americans for Freedom (Y.A.F.), serves as News Editor for The Michigan Times. Doug Snyder and Chris Kelly, cited in the article as students chosen to question the candidates, are employed by The Michigan Times as Advertising Manager and Staff Writer, respectively. Their involvement with The Michigan Times did not affect the direction or content of this piece, and was not subject to their approval.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools