Students `Meet the Candidates,' get answers
By SARAH RYKOWSKI
News Writer
Members of the Saint Mary's community had a chance to hear more from the four tickets running for student body president and vice president during a question-and-answer session.
Before opening the floor to questions from the audience, candidates answered questions generated by the Board of Governance.
Asked to address the most important issues facing Saint Mary's, the candidates agreed that communication was important.
"The biggest issue is cooperation between BOG and the student body," presidential candidate Crissie Renner said.
Presidential candidate Emily Koelsch and her running mate, Rachel Rodarte agreed.
"Communication is a big part of what needs to be done," said Koelsch.
Jillian Koepke and her running mate Desiree Hollis, along with the other candidates, included increasing Saint Mary's pride as key to their platform.
"One of the most important things is to bring this campus together," Koepke said. "I would want to make sure that more people were familiar with each other.
"That would promote school pride and make people more comfortable about approaching student government, making a community more of a community."
Koelsch also addressed the issue of Saint Mary's pride.
"We are all about spirit," Koelsch said. "The spirit you catch when you come on campus."
Making Saint Mary's women and the community realize all the College has to offer was part of presidential candidate Missy Bittner and running mate Molly Banahan's platform
"Saint Mary's is a journey, not a destination — an ever-evolving community with so many opportunities," Banahan said. "We need to get the name out in the community."
Renner agreed.
"We need to get the community excited about Saint Mary's," Renner said.
The Koelsch/Rodarte ticket suggested asking area stores to carry Saint Mary's apparel to increase community awareness of the College.
"We feel like the community doesn't know enough about us. We need to promote every aspect of the campus," Rodarte said.
Given the opportunity to ask the candidates questions, members of the audience raised a variety of issues including questions regarding the smoking proposal, a cable TV channel and the Keenan Revue.
The candidates were asked whether they felt the controversial Keenan Revue should be held in Saint Mary's O'Lauglin auditorium.
"It is difficult to ban something that brings so many people to campus. My role as a student leader is to find out what students think about it," Banahan said.
Nagle took a more decisive stance.
"I don't see why we couldn't have the Keenan Revue banned from campus," Nagle said.
All News Stories for Friday, January 28, 2000
