Associated Student Body holds debate for candidates running for executive office

The Daily Mississippian For the first time in three years, student body president candidates defended their claims to office to a standing-room-only auditorium Wednesday night.
All 14 candidates for president, vice president, attorney general, secretary, judicial chair and treasurer gathered at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics for the debate. More than 200 students attended the debate, most of whom were pulling for one candidate or another.
Presidential candidates Emily Hoffman, Dion Kevin and Austin Spindler spoke about the importance of diversity, community involvement and student feedback.
Austin Spindler, Dion Kevin and Emily Hoffman, Associated Student Body presidential candidates answer questions from students and define their campaign positions at the office debate Wednesday in the Overby Center. (Photo by: Ariel Cobbert)
Hoffman said the most difficult issue facing the student body from the perspective of ASB is the lack of student involvement. She said to solve the problem, ASB must reach out to more groups on campus, especially minority groups, to achieve maximum participation and inclusion.
“It takes us going and being uncomfortable … so that we can get everyone’s voice heard,” Hoffman said.
Kevin suggested ASB require students to have a certain number of service hours, similar to how the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College runs its service hours program, to ensure involvement.
“I want the students to start caring about the community more,” Kevin said. “I am kind of tired of students taking the city for granted.”
Spindler said he believes there is a lot of room for Ole Miss to grow through public forums. He plans to host town hall style meetings to increase participation and student input.
“We need to understand that the Associated Student Body is the collective voice of this university community,” Spindler said. “Each of us deserves to have our voices heard.”
The presidential candidates were also asked how they would have responded to ASB’s ...


Read more