2008 Woodie Awards
SGA Presidential Candidates Ambrus and Martin Debate the Issues, Answer Tough Questions
Anna Kastrilevich
Issue date: 4/18/06 Section: News
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Student Government Association (SGA) presidential candidates Meg Ambrus '07 and Sarah Martin '07 discussed topics pertinent to their vision for the Smith community in a debate at 9 p.m. in the Carroll Room of the Campus Center on April 17.
The debate was moderated by Maureen Mahoney, dean of the college. The candidates gave opening and closing statements, answered six questions that were submitted by the SGA and then fielded questions from the audience. Candidates were given two minutes to answer each question and one minute to give a rebuttal.
Martin began by stating her qualifications as a Senator on SGA from Haven-Wesley house, a member of ORC, where she started the Student Bank Reorganization Committee, and a participant in the Jean Picker Semester in Washington Program.
Ambrus has served as the Vice President of the SGA, Chair of Senate, President of the Sophomore Class, Parsons House Senator and Vice President, and has served on the Common Grounds Committee and College Council on Community Policy.
She referenced the SGA presidential debate that she witnessed as a first-year. "I hope that tonight we can reach the same level of intensity and dialogue that inspired me in my first year," she said. "Let's not be afraid to disagree and start a discourse about Smith."
The candidates discussed how Smith students can improve some aspects of the community on a small scale.
"One concrete way for each and every Smithie to contribute is by embodying those qualities that you want to see in the SGA in your everyday life," Martin said.
Ambrus responded that leadership is something that she really cares about, and that leadership is about empowering others to create change.
The candidates then answered how they would address division within the SGA and the student body about issues of gender, race, politics, class and privilege.
Ambrus responded that "We need to look at how we form community, and to change cabinet to effectively use the diversity committee. SGA needs to be able to utilize heads of unity organizations on campus. At SGA, our problem is that we are afraid to address issues realistically. This points to a need for real dialogue on campus, and SGA can model this civil discourse by allowing ourselves to disagree."
The debate was moderated by Maureen Mahoney, dean of the college. The candidates gave opening and closing statements, answered six questions that were submitted by the SGA and then fielded questions from the audience. Candidates were given two minutes to answer each question and one minute to give a rebuttal.
Martin began by stating her qualifications as a Senator on SGA from Haven-Wesley house, a member of ORC, where she started the Student Bank Reorganization Committee, and a participant in the Jean Picker Semester in Washington Program.
Ambrus has served as the Vice President of the SGA, Chair of Senate, President of the Sophomore Class, Parsons House Senator and Vice President, and has served on the Common Grounds Committee and College Council on Community Policy.
She referenced the SGA presidential debate that she witnessed as a first-year. "I hope that tonight we can reach the same level of intensity and dialogue that inspired me in my first year," she said. "Let's not be afraid to disagree and start a discourse about Smith."
The candidates discussed how Smith students can improve some aspects of the community on a small scale.
"One concrete way for each and every Smithie to contribute is by embodying those qualities that you want to see in the SGA in your everyday life," Martin said.
Ambrus responded that leadership is something that she really cares about, and that leadership is about empowering others to create change.
The candidates then answered how they would address division within the SGA and the student body about issues of gender, race, politics, class and privilege.
Ambrus responded that "We need to look at how we form community, and to change cabinet to effectively use the diversity committee. SGA needs to be able to utilize heads of unity organizations on campus. At SGA, our problem is that we are afraid to address issues realistically. This points to a need for real dialogue on campus, and SGA can model this civil discourse by allowing ourselves to disagree."
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