CC 2012 student council candidates debate platforms

A small audience turned out Saturday night for the Columbia College Student Council class of 2012 debates, where a more free-flowing question-and-answer format fostered discussion among candidates whose talking points largely centered on council and student communication.

For the first-year candidates, the question of how to mobilize CC students to get them more involved on campus was an issue they expected to grapple with if elected, as the students conjured up ways to draw larger numbers to events.

Debate participants included the members of the B.A.M. ticket, notably presidential candidate Michelle Kwak and vice presidential candidate Brandi Ripp; the Fianna Fail ticket, whose presidential candidate, William Prasifka, was absent but represented by candidate for vice president David Lynch; and the Access Columbia ticket, led by presidential candidate Aki Terasaki, vice-presidential candidate Sarah Chai who did not attend, and Brandon Christophe, Jasmine Senior, and Kenny Durell, running for representative roles.

Kwak and Ripp advocated for more study breaks and for developing innovative ways for the class councils to get through to their constituents. “I read all the [CCSC] emails, but I know a lot of people who don’t,” Kwak said. She emphasized that next year’s CCSC would have to find new ways to attract attention and advertise council efforts and events.

Members of Access Columbia said they would work to increase turnout at school events and sports games by placing more plastic table toppers listing the week’s events in John Jay to advertise cheaply. Terasaki also emphasized the importance of following through with initiatives started this year, such as the expansive online events calendar.

Lynch, who, along with his running mate, is a newcomer to the campus politics, said that their campaign’s lack of inside experience is an asset to their ticket. “We’re fresh eyes on the board, and we believe that is a definite plus,” Lynch said, adding that a major goal of their ticket Fianna Fail was to change the perception of CCSC as a “glorified planning committee,” and to successfully show students how the council functions. To develop events inexpensively, he suggested installing raffles at some events to cover charges.

James Bogner, chair of the CCSC Elections Board and CC ’10, asked the candidates how they would contribute to council policy-making, especially at a council where the number of resolutions has drastically dipped in recent years. While none of the tickets seemed to have a solid answer for how they would be efficient policy-makers, they each expressed a commitment to making improvements and effectively getting resolutions implemented.

The 2010 class council debate will be held on April 7, with the Academic Affairs Debate following on April 13 and the Uncontested Candidates’ Town Hall on April 16.

Alix Pianin can be reached at alix.pianin@columbiaspectator.com.