Difference in SGA candidates show at debate, full recording airing Wednesday
Student Government Association presidential candidate Brittany Mouzourakis boldly called out her opponent during a debate Tuesday, saying he was lying and misleading.
“Evan, it is great to have the opportunity to meet in person, so I can actually defend myself from your blatant lies you have used to try and win yourself votes,” the current SGA vice president said. “You have inflated SGA stipends in a desperate attempt to create hysteria and rally votes. You have made preposterous claims to lower tuition, when in fact, you have no proposal for actually doing so.”
She continued by noting Agnello, a Troy junior, said he had a combined three years experience, when actually he had joined the House this semester and has been consistently absent, she said.
Agnello responded by saying he is ready to bring change in leadership.
“Over the course of this campaign I believe I have proved two things — that we need new leadership, and that I’m definitely up for the challenge,” he said. “The last administration allowed all sorts of shenanigans, anything from the budget to the tailgating.
“As student government president I will work toward lowering tuition costs, ending wasteful SGA bonuses, and restoring tailgate back to its former glory.”
Mouzourakis, a Garden City senior, was joined by her vice president candidate, Muskegon senior Dave Breed. Jessica Richard, Agnello’s vice president candidate and a Highland junior, did not attend.
The most controversial topic was on SGA stipends. The two candidates were on opposite ends of the spectrum.
“It is important that the economically elite on campus do not become the politically elite on campus,” Mouzourakis said.
Agnello said he believes the stipends are a horrible idea and they need to go.
“I feel they are ridiculous. SGA is supposed to serve the students. That’s exactly what it should be — a service to the students,” he said.
Agnello said accepting stipends is accepting money from the administration, which is a conflict of interest.
Other topics discussed included open communication between SGA and the student body, positions on the proposed 3, 6 and 9 percent budget cuts and the candidates’ thoughts on creating a smoke-free campus— the only topic on which Agnello and Mouzourakis agreed. They said a smoke-free campus is beneficial to the campus community.
Voting ends at noon Sunday. Students can vote at vote.cmich.edu.
Full debate aired tonight
The debate will air on Modern Rock 91.5 WMHW-FM at 9 p.m. today.
Agnello hopes a debate like this will become a growing trend with SGA.
“I think it’s about time a neutral third party steps in to hold such a debate,” he said.
Jake Neher, news director for 91.5, moderated the debate and felt it was important to get both candidates’ perspectives out to the student body.
The questions were mostly focused on SGA’s relationship with other students, the Bloomfield Hills senior said. There were a couple of fairly specific questions on university policy, as well.
Agnello said he is more concerned with the subjects that directly affect students.
“If you want your tailgate back, vote for Agnello and Richard,” he said.
The radio version of the debate will be virtually the same as if students heard it the day it happened.
“(It is) just the debate 24 hours later,” Neher said. “We will not edit or alter anything the candidates say.”
