Posted on October 4, 2007
Senators Lee Brooks and Ilk Ghavami duked it out in JMU's first ever debate for student body president Wednesdday night in Taylor Down Under.
Candidates gave a two minute opening statement and then answered questions provided by the JMU community and audience members. While many topics were brought up, much of the discussion focused on the challenges facing JMU, the lack of a strong minority presence on campus, and the strengths and weakness of the candidates.
Brooks, who is currently serving as vice president of administrative affairs, said that the biggest challenge facing the JMU community was an image issue. Rather than revamping the entire SGA, he thought that the best plan of action would be for the SGA to reconnect with the organization's mission.
"After we're done with our official business and serving students we need to look at where we are and where we're going," he said.
In order to do this, Brooks not only recommends that the SGA give proper credit and recognition to the groups around JMU that deserve it, but that it works to get other organizations involved in student government as well.
"Our presence at events shows we're involved," he said.
Ghavami, senator for the college of math and science, however, said that he thought the biggest challenges to the campus were ones of accountability and activism. While he thought that ex-president Brandon Eickel did the right thing by resigning, his election platform recommends a revision to the honor code that would hold all students, school officials and JMU affiliates accountable for maintaining the integrity and honor of JMU.
"I think some people believe that there's a hierarchy on campus and the SGA is a part of it," he said. Ghavami thinks that because of this they may be becoming more apathetic to the SGA's role on campus.
"People don't feel compelled to get out and vote," he said. "We need to change that."
Another issue discussed during the debate dealt with minority's presence on campus. While some worried about the lack of diversity around the JMU campus, other's asked why the creation of a building for the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgendered center, which has passed through the SGA two years ago, was not yet underway.
Brooks, who was active in the SGA when the motion passed and voted for the creation of the center, said that the SGA has been taking small steps toward the building of the center. While he said that he would push for it as president, he reminded the crowd that SGA electives only have so much power on campus.
Ghavami was not active in the SGA when the motion for a GLBT center went through but said that as president he plans to address these issues. He added that he thought it would be good for students on campus to be exposed to new ideas and viewpoints.
Lastly, Brooks and Ghavami debated their potential strengths and weaknesses as president.
As Brooks has been involved in the SGA since he entered JMU as a freshman, he feel that he has a better understanding of how the SGA works. In addition, his position has allowed him to make contacts and form relationships that he thinks could prove beneficial for the betterment of the university.
"I think that the one thing that separates us is experience," he said. "I know the organization inside and out. I love the organization."
Brooks added that his work in the SGA has changed him, preparing him for the position as president.
"The Lee Brooks talking to you now is not the one you would have talked to four years ago," he said. "I've learned so much from these leadership roles."
Ghavami, however, thought that it might be time for some new faces to get involved in the SGA. While this is the first year he has been involved in the student government, he thinks the organization could benefit from some fresh input.
"The same people, the same personalities — it's a weakness," he said. "That newness that I have can be a very big plus."
Ghavami said that if elected he hopes to keep in touch with students, so that the SGA can make sure to serve its constituents. He thinks that university could benefit from the change.
"If you can have a leader who can step outside of the box, follow the leader and let the leader be the change," he said.
By the conclusion of the debate student opinions varied as to who would make the most effective leader. With less than twelve hours until they could begin casting their votes, student's disagreed over who should be chosen to run the student government.
"You have the new and you have the old," Raphael Perrino, a first year graduate student, said. "Lee is part of that previous block. I see Ilk as the Obama of the election, and Lee is the Clinton." Perrino plans to vote for JMU's Obama.
Senior Kelly Greer agreed with Perrino's analogy, but disagreed with his conclusion.
"I love Barack Obama, but when it comes to getting things done, experience is important," she said. "I think it's impossible to go into the SGA election without experience."
According to Kristin Muncy, executive committee advisor of the SGA, earlier this week the elections committee met to discuss complaints about alleged violations in Ghavami's campaign regarding unregistered staff members. The committee had a hearing and decided that enough factors hadn't been met to affect the election or keep him off the ballot. As scheduled, students can vote online at sga.jmu.edu/ today from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m..
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