It’s that time of year again. Those nifty campaign signs are up all over campus as another FUSA election is underway.
Four candidates are running for the coveted position of FUSA President. The candidates, all juniors, are Karen Donoghue, Vin Farisello, Patrick Noonan and Jordan Schibler.
Vice President of Senate candidates include juniors Casey Butterly and Michael Franco. The lone candidate for Vice President of Programming is Joni Saunders ’03.
Tuesday’s primary will narrow the presidential race to two candidates. A general election will be held the following Tuesday, Feb. 26.
The FUSA elections are being held earlier than normal this year because of the odd placement of Spring Break and Easter Break in the academic calendar.
“We wanted to alleviate having to run a campaign during Easter Break and Spring Break,” election official Ed Hertwig ’02 said.
This year’s FUSA candidates draw from varied backgrounds of experience and involvement on campus, but represent some common views. (See sidebar for profiles on FUSA presidential candidates.)
A common issue addressed by the candidates is the problem of student apathy. “Apathy, to me, is the opposite of student pride,” Donoghue said. Noonan agreed, saying, “We need to find more creative ways to increase school spirit.”
All candidates found beach relations to be important as well.
For Farisello, chairman and co-founder of the Board of Governors, many university-related issues may begin, but do not end, with FUSA.
“The main objective of any campus government should be to uphold and defend student’s rights-I feel that FUSA has become distracted from carrying out this vital function,” Farisello said.
Schibler also holds this sentiment, saying he aspires to “develop a student government that works for all student needs.”
A debate among the candidates for FUSA President and Vice President of Senate will be held at 11:30 a.m. today in the Barone Campus Center, according to Hertwig at press time.
The FUSA debates will be open to all students on the first floor of the Barone Campus Center and will be broadcast by the Ham Channel.
The presidential debate will start with three-minute opening statements by all candidates. A question-and-answer period will be conducted, the questions being generated by the student audience. The debate will be moderated by the debate team.
The questions will be addressed with a one-minute response from the addressed candidate, followed by 30-second rebuttals by the other candidates.
The debate will conclude with two-minute closing remarks.
A similar format will also be used for the vice presidential debates.
FUSA Election Timetable:
* Thursday, Feb. 14 – FUSA President and Vice President of Senate debates. They will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Barone Campus Center. All are invited to attend to ask questions of the candidates.
* Tuesday, Feb. 19 – Primary election for FUSA Presidential candidates. Time and location TBA.
* Tuesday, Feb. 26 – General election for FUSA President, Vice President of Senate, and Vice President of Programming. Time and location TBA.
Any questions, please contact the FUSA office, located in the basement of the Barone Campus Center, x4040.
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