ASWSU Presidential Debate Highlights Differences

By Conor Devitt

Summary: The ASWSU presidential debate took place on Feb. 13 between the ticket of Taylor Hennessey and Kevin Massimino, who are focused on improving student life, and the ticket of Jake Mayson and Harrison Diemert, who are focused on getting money back to the students.

Outline:

I). The Debate

·         Time and place

·         Competitors

II). First Questions

·         Student Services

o   Massimino’s perspective

o   Mayson’s perspective

·         Senate

o   Diemert’s perspective

o   Massimino’s perspective

III). Executive Ideology

·         Hennessey’s perspective

·         Mayson’s perspective

IV). Big Ideas

·         Mayson’s gas co-op

·         Hennessey’s world record

V). Conclusion

·         Success of event

·         Election

The ASWSU presidential debate showcased ideas, beliefs and strategies of the two presidential tickets in the upcoming ASWSU election.

The debate, which was held on Feb. 13 in the CUB Senior Ballroom, pitted hopeful president Taylor Hennessey and hopeful vice president Kevin Massimino against hopeful president Jake Mayson and hopeful vice president Harrison Diemert.

“I couldn’t have hoped for a better turnout and a better set of answers from the candidates,” said Colin Moravec, the debate moderator and ASWSU Election Board Chair.

The debate began with a question regarding what each ticket would do for student services. Massimino, a junior sports management major, said their key focus would be the promotion of existing services, and that they would make better known the vast resources already available to the student body. Mayson, a senior political science and philosophy double major, said they would like to expand the Cougar Leadership Retreat to include leadership groups from organizations across the campus at large, increasing campus unity.

The next question was about Senate representation, and how in the last year it had switched from geographical representation to academic representation. Diemert, a sophomore hospitality business management major, expressed his support for the switch. Massimino did as well, but also called for greater accountability among senators, requesting that they meet with deans of their respective colleges on a regular basis. Massimino noted his experience previously as a senator and an executive, and said this would help him effectively work with the Senate.

“I think I have the tools necessary to help the Senate, provide them with the necessary resources and assist them in setting goals,” Massimino said.

The two tickets disagreed on how active the executive office should be. Hennessey, a senior political science major, discussed ideas he would actively carry out if elected president, such as the campus-wide breaking of a world record or the revamping of homecoming week. Mayson said he believed the executive office should be responsible for the encouragement and assistance of the ideas of university committees and organizations, but take a less active role in carrying them out themselves.

“Our priority is putting money back into the student’s pockets,” Mayson said.

                Mayson did, however, speak extensively on one idea his ticket was promoting. If elected Mason and Diemert would attempt to set up a gas co-op that students could buy shares of, which they believe would give students a heavily discounted option for gas. A separate and independent committee of student shareholders would be selected to run the co-op, giving students an outlet for leadership opportunities within the business world.

                Hennessey and Massimino consistently stressed the importance of students’ four or five years in Pullman. Both discussed fostering opportunities that make those years as special as possible. Hennessey talked briefly about breaking a world record as a student body, mentioning the record for the largest game of dodgeball as a possibility.

                Conan Campbell, the Director of Student Involvement, though the debate was very successful, noting that both sets of candidates illustrated their points effectively.

                “I think the students that were here got to learn a lot about ASWSU,” Mayson said. “They were presented with a choice between two very different tickets.”

                Students will have a chance to vote electronically in the ASWSU Presidential and Senate races on March 5-6.

Contacts:

Connan Campbell, Director of Student Involvement: connan@wsu.edu

Colin Moravec, ASWSU Election Board Chair: colin.moravec@email.wsu.edu

Jake Mayson, ASWSU Presidential Candidate: jkmayson@wsu.edu