SA candidates discuss platforms

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by Felisa Yang

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The candidates are Daryl Shorter (Hanszen College '98); Teddy Kapur (Hanszen '99); Noemie Dharamraj (Hanszen '98); Packy Saunders (Jones College '98); and Hrishkesh Lotlikar (Baker College '98) and Ryan Melgiri (Baker '99), who are co-candidates.

The debate was moderated by KTRU General Manager Andy Campbell (Baker '97)and Thresher Co-Editor in Chief Marty Beard (Brown College '98). The candidates opened with general remarks, during which they outlined their platforms and goals.

Lotlikar and Melgiri explained that their partnership "leads to greater efficiency and energy, because the job of SA president is time-intensive and work-intensive." Their goals include improving Rice's national reputation by offering more programs that will increase student involvement both on- and off-campus. They are also pushing to reform general curriculum so as to offer greater freedom in choosing classes.

Kapur also focused on student involvement as a solution to the oft-quoted "Rice-student apathy." Kapur's suggestions entailed linking academic credit with community service as an incentive to increase service learning. He cited Stanford University and Yale University as schools which have already implemented such programs.

Shorter emphasized furthering traditional SA Senate projects, as well as expanding opportunites and options available to Rice students. He hopes to expand the scope of the Silver Saver cards to include national chains such as McDonald's, Target and Dunkin Donuts. Shorter's main point, though, was the diversification of both faculty and students at Rice, namely by expanding efforts to recruit minority and women faculty.

Dharamraj's opening remarks focused on her committment to fulfilling the visions and dreams of students and organizations on campus. She expressed a willingness to take risks and experiment with new ways to achieve goals.

Saunders described his approach as "loose-minded." Unlike the other candidates, he dressed down in order to emphasize his position as a student, and as a doer, not a talker.

Following the opening remarks, the candidates fielded questions from the moderators and the audience.

A recurrent theme was student apathy and how to mend this perceived problem. Other issues included the role of the SA in representing the student body; the role of the SA in campus media groups including KTRU and the Thresher ; campus climate with regards to sexism, racism and homophobia; the relationship between students and administration; and the college system.

Much of the audience question-and-answer session focused on the pros and cons of the college system. All candidates concurred that while the system has its merits, it can also be restricting for students. One audience member suggested an "exchange program" between colleges, which all the candidates supported.

During the closing remarks, the candidates reiterated their main points and emphasized their commitments to being approachable and available to the students.

For more information, see the election supplement on page 8.

This item appeared in the News section of the February 14, 1997 issue.

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