The five candidates for USG president engaged last night in a heated debate sponsored by the Organization of Women Leaders.
The debate took place in front of the Frist Campus Center display wall, where passersby could join the initial crowd of about 80 students to hear the candidates' positions on women's issues in addition to the audience's concerns on 'the Street,' intellectualism and the USG's role.
The candidates include USG officers Josh Anderson '04, U-Council chair; Sonya Mirbagheri '04, USG vice president; and Pettus Randall '04, Class of 2004 senator.
Two candidates have pushed their lack of USG involvement as adding a new voice. Octavio Carrasco '04 has run one of the most vocal campaigns in recent years, parading around on campus and giving impromptu speeches. Cameron Koczon '04 has stressed that resume-padding is not a reason for his running because as an ROTC student, he will join the Army after graduation.
OWL officer Katherine Reilly '05 moderated the debate. A main concern among the candidates was the USG's role in enacting change and working with the administration in decision-making.
Randall said he wants a "paradigm shift in student government" and that he is running for office to "make sure that we get our voices heard through action."
Anderson frequently talked about his precept reform initiative, which he plans to continue. He said he wants to create a committee to examine writing seminars in the same fashion. He said he would push the University to hire more female professors to have more female role models on campus.
Mirbagheri emphasized her experience and the relationships that she has formed with the administration through this position. She also advocated better publicizing of the Women's Issues Task Force to alert students to counseling resources available and the need for town hall meetings.
Koczon emphasized that as a member of ROTC he has significant leadership training. He questioned the USG's role in decisions such as the seven-week moratorium for athletes.
"I am ecstatic that I am not being associated with this kind of inactivity," he said.
Anderson, Koczon, Mirbagheri and Randall all agreed that safety is an area of women's life that needs improvement. Randall suggested that OWL leaders contribute to planning University health initiatives and said he would ensure better campus lighting and transportation from 'the Street.'
Anderson and Mirbagheri said they would support OWL in forming a Bicker Bill of Rights. Mirbagheri also suggested having a female liaison at eating clubs so that women who have concerns about harassment can talk to a woman. Koczon echoed Randall's suggestion of better lighting and shuttles, adding that a "sober, large gentleman" liaison might also be a good resource at clubs for women who need someone to defend them.
Carrasco simply stated that the USG members "say they'll change a lot of things and make a lot of promises" but won't.
Using profanities, Carrasco accused OWL of being an "organization of debutantes by debutantes and for debutantes." He proceeded to generalize about the OWL women as "Southern belles" and "Jewish-American princesses," to which the other candidates expressed their revulsion.
Several audience members repeatedly cheered for Carrasco and snapped when other candidates were speaking.
On the issue of sexuality on campus, Anderson said he would try to change the University's sexual harassment policy, which he said is too difficult because it only allows prosecution of offenders through the court system.
Randall said he would use the Dialogue@Princeton initiative to increase dialogue on issues such as sexuality and diversity on campus.
"Maybe we could require everyone on campus to be part of a certain dialogue," he said.
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