Matt Woodward, senior in applied sociology, moderated a debate on the issue of campus diversity last night in the Student Senate chambers, where student body officer candidates were invited to field questions.
Several minority groups on campus, most notably the GLBT Center, Multicultural Student Affairs and the Women’s Center, hosted the debate. These organizations, as well as other students, submitted questions for the debate via email.
While hopefuls for student body treasurer and other positions were in attendance, presidential candidates were the first to be questioned.
To begin, Woodward asked a unique question, causing each of the candidates to pause and consider their answer.
“How can the University facilitate creating a climate in which women develop deeper relationships with each other across ethnic backgrounds,” Woodward asked.
Caroline Yopp , junior in agriculture, was the first to answer, mentioning her experience on the appropriations committee, claiming it gave her direct contact to diverse campus groups organized for females. Yopp stressed the importance of attending events, and candidates Andy Walsh, junior in political science, and Jonathon Smith, junior in agriculture, agreed with minor variations.
With only five general questions posed, the debate took a more serious turn when Woodward asked the second question- should undocumented students be able to enroll at N.C. State?
Walsh was the first to answer this controversial inquiry.
“All students should get access to education,” Walsh said. “Not having these students in the classroom hinders the environment.
Smith, up next, added a qualifier to his response.
“I agree that everyone should have the rights to basic necessities, but I believe we need to reform the immigration system and make it easier for people to come here legally,” Smith said.
Finally, Yopp responded by saying she did not want to linger on politics. Instead, she offered an anecdote and told the audience of her trips to different parts of Mexico, where she taught young students English.
“Sometimes we don’t understand what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes,” Yopp said.
As the debate continued, candidates answered questions about increasing African American enrollment rates and students with disabilities. In addition, Woodward posed a question on whether the candidates would support gender-neutral housing.
Though the means by which they came to their answers differed, all three candidates agreed if there is a need for something amongst the student body, it is worthwhile to do the necessary research to make that happen.
Walsh pointed out he was an avid supporter of the gender-neutral bathrooms offered in Harrelson , saying he would continue to be proactive on similar issues.
“Just because we don’t understand something doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do what we can to make that person comfortable,” Yopp said.
The candidates once again agreed on issues of students with disabilities, reaching the consensus that their needs should be researched and met. They also spoke on the need for increased exposure to students with disabilities, saying other students are at a disservice with a lack of such.
“We haven’t done the best job of updating all the buildings on campus,” Smith said.
He also pointed out in this way, we are still living as though it were the first anniversary of the University’s creation, and not the 125 th .
Though Walsh had already utilized the two rebuttals allotted to each of the candidates, personal questions began.
Woodward did not shy away from potentially inflammatory issues, asking Smith how he thinks it made members of the GLBT community feel when, two years ago, he walked out of a student senate meeting instead of abstaining a vote, or voting against a bill in support of creating a GLBT appreciation month.
“If you’ll read the minutes, I was opposed to giving a whole month, simply because there are so many other minority groups on campus and only twelve months in the year. I did support giving a week, though,” Smith said.
Yopp used one of her rebuttals to highlight that she gave a speech on this bill and was offended by the number of senators who chose to walk out of the meeting.
Yopp’s personal question involved diversity. She was asked to explain how she will assure students in the less acknowledged diverse groups a voice. To this, Yopp rattled off a list of cultural events to which she has recently been invited and attended.
“I may not know about everyone, but I’m willing to learn,” Yopp said.
Finally, Walsh was asked to clarify a statement made in Monday night’s Technician sponsored SBP debate, in which he answered a question about the appropriateness of Student Government’s writing of a bill dealing with the GLBT community.
“My role is to support students, I have no personal political agenda,” Walsh said.