Candidates for USG president and vice president clashed on a range of issues Wednesday night in a debate leading up to this weekend's election.
The candidates sparred with each other in Frist Campus Center on how confrontational student leaders should be toward administrators and how to best get students involved in USG initiatives. Voting starts Sunday at noon and ends Tuesday at noon.
U-Council chair and presidential candidate Sarah Langberg '09 emphasized her experience with a variety of student organizations on campus, noting that, in addition to her current USG position, she is an RCA and a member of the sailing team. Langberg said these diverse campus activities would help her as USG president.
Langberg's opponent, USG vice president Josh Weinstein '09, took a different approach, listing his accomplishments within the USG, including spearheading the U-Bikes initiative in Forbes College, serving as elections manager for previous USG elections and chartering buses for students to travel to football games at Harvard and Yale.
Weinstein said his focus on student government as his sole extracurricular activity proves that he would be a dedicated USG president. "I only do USG," he said. "USG is my life."
Langberg and Weinstein both said that the most pressing issue the USG needs to tackle is lack of communication, not only between students and administrators but also among students.
But they proposed different solutions for the problem. Weinstein said he would strive for better communication with students by creating commercials and weekly video announcements that would update students on USG projects.
Langberg criticized that position, saying it only involves one-way communication from USG members to their classmates. Instead, she said, the USG should solicit student feedback through surveys and other methods.
Langberg added that she could be an effective liaison with administrators. When faced with an uncooperative dean, she said, she would not be afraid to go above his or her head and speak to a higher-ranking administrator.
Weinstein countered that he could also work well with the administration, arguing that "every single member of the administration knows who I am."
In response to a comment from the audience about lack of cooperation among student groups, the USG and the administration — particularly on funding issues — Weinstein proposed a web network with individual pages for each student group. This method, he said, would enable groups to discuss past successes and failures while planning events and seeking funding.
Langberg said she would work with University officials to develop a uniform procedure for requesting funds. "It's not our job to look for money," she said. "It's our job to look for great things to do."
Despite their disagreements, both candidates expressed optimism that they can collaborate next semester. Weinstein said he hopes that he and Langberg "can work together" regardless of who wins the election. Langberg concurred, noting that the USG is "not a one-man show."
The debate also involved all three vice-presidential candidates — Kenton Murray '09, Roby Sobieski '10 and Mike Wang '10 — who began their portion of the debate with one-minute introductions.
Murray said his disagreement with the revised alcohol policy was the main motivation for his candidacy. He criticized University officials for not seeking student input before making the changes, which include Public Safety patrols of dorms for alcohol violations and a more prominent role for RCAs in enforcing drinking rules. If elected, he said, he will make sure student opinions are clearly expressed to administrators.
"I will harass, annoy, soapbox ... the administration [to] make sure that the University starts listening to students more," he said.
But Sobieski opposed Murray's strategy, saying it was too aggressive. Instead, he pledged to develop a more cooperative relationship with the administration.
Sobieski, who chairs the Forbes College Council, also responded to audience concerns about plans for a Great Gatsby-themed party at the college, which was originally given a $20,000 budget but was downsized to $16,000 after criticism that the event was too extravagant.
Sobieski said that throwing a party was not his idea. Forbes Director of Student Life Lesley Nye presented the college council with an ultimatum, he said, telling members he had the choice of either "helping plan out a $20,000 party or letting the administration plan it without the knowledge of the students." He chose to participate in the planning, he said. He added, though, that he thought the price tag was justified, saying it is comparable to the average cost of a prom.
Wang, a Class of 2010 senator, said he is the best qualified vice-presidential candidate because he is the only one currently participating in the USG. He added that, based on his experience, he thinks students "feel uncomfortable" sharing their concerns with members of the student government.
"I want the USG to be much more approachable to the student body," he said, suggesting that free food should be offered during USG office hours "so people feel welcome going to us and telling us about the issues they care about."
The debate was moderated by Angela Cai '09, who is president of the University Debate Panel and a senior writer for The Daily Princetonian.
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