Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Doug Klembara Student Body Presidential candidates Nick Adams, Jody Saemun and Terry Dike are among the six student leaders running for the position. [Click to enlarge]

There was a lack of argument and even a little camaraderie between the candidates Monday night during The Battalion's sponsored debate between the Student Body President candidates. The candidates Nicholas Adams, Terry Dike, Mark Gold, Dustin McKnight, Ryan Rieger and Jody Sanmuen used the debate as an opportunity to talk about their platforms.

The candidates had similar ideas about what they would like to do if they were elected to office. The most prevalent theme of the debate was communication and unity.

Dike pointed out that the students have a powerful voice when they are united.

Adams made his opening statement by suggesting to leave the Koldus building where Student Government Association meetings are making a point of getting students more connected to their senators and representatives. He said he was not basing his campaign on promises.

"You need to hold me accountable to my word," Adams said.

It was pointed out in the debate that the SBP did not have any delegated powers. All of the candidates agreed that the only way to get anything done was to rely on the students.

The debate progressed to diversity when the candidates answered questions involving what diversity meant to them and their stance on diversity issues. Again, the candidates had very similar answers.

Gold said diversity is one of A&M's biggest strengths while McKnight and Sanmuen agreed that diversity was more than just skin color, it is being from a different background.

"Diversity is the opportunity to be around students that are different from you," Dike said.

The candidates agreed that diversity was an issue and change needed to start with the incoming freshman class.

Adams said that recruiting needed to take place in more northern states, so students would expect to encounter a new culture when coming to A&M.

Gold said he would like to use the position of SBP to talk to incoming freshmen at Fish Camp, while McKnight said he thought we should overwhelm freshmen with diverse experiences.

On most issues, candidates had mainly similar points but not always. Sanmuen stood out in the row of suits in her T-shirt and tennis shoes. She brought up her experiences as a residence hall adviser to show how easily she related to students.

In the relationship between the SGA and the city of College Station, the candidates made comments about creating a liaison to increase communication and uniting the student body to have more power in the city.

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