Tuesday evening, I attended the 2022-2023 ASUN debate in advance of the upcoming student government election at UNL. I'll be recapping the debate below, but to view my live-Tweet thread of the debate, click here.
Debate Overivew
The debate featured the two campaigns running for the 2022-2023 ASUN leadership team. The debate was moderated by representatives from the Daily Nebraskan, including senior news editor Carly Jahn and assistant news editors Becca Hummel and Nick McConnell.
The debate featured opening statements, debate over four topics, student questions, and closing statements. Each campaign respectively opened two of the topics, while the opposing campaign followed. Rebuttals were allowed.
The Campaigns
Illuminate opened the debate. To learn more about the team, click here.
For more information on the Advance team, see this article.
Topic 1: COVID-19 Response on Campus
Summary: Both sides noted that UNL's COVID policy's are heavily dependent on the decisions of the local government, not the University; however, they both had ideas on how to combat that.
Illuminate Key Points:
Include more student representation in COVID-19 policy decisions on campus, such as masks in classrooms.
Advance Key Points:
Advocate for student mental health
Continue flexible attendance policies throughout pandemic
Topic 2: Sexual Violence
Summary: Both sides agreed that more needs to be done by UNL to help survivors and combat sexual violence. The protests outside of Phi Gamma Delta were attended by members of both sides. There was heated back-and-forth on whether Illuminate has been able to follow through on past actions, but Advance claimed they were not speaking directly at Ibrahim.
Advance Key Points:
UNL needs to "stand with survivors"
More resources to help guide students through the post-assault process
Illuminate Key Points:
UNL needs to “work with survivors and put them at the forefront”
Ibrahim has already been working towards changing policies regarding sexual violence on campus and through ASUN
Topic 3: Money and the Affordability of UNL
Summary: The third topic showed unity between the opponents in that first-generation students need more resources to learn about scholarships and affording college.
Illuminate Key Point:
More transparency with student fees and what they are used for.
Advance Key Point:
We can hold office hours and help students apply for scholarships.
Topic 4: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Summary: Tensions were high during the fourth and final topic. There was a impassioned debate over an incident with ASUN last fall that involved a black student and Trinh of Advance. Illuminate alleged that Advance members had purposely excluded a black student from a certain role, but Advance rebutted that Trinh found the student wasn’t qualified for a specific position and was better suited as a senator. Trinh did apologize but held strong on that it was part of her job and a difficult decision. More details were not shared during the debate.
Advance Key Point:
In full support of the racial equity plan and the resolution that was brought before ASUN.
Illuminate Key Point:
Can’t make campus a safe space for every BIPOC person, but they can strive for a more equitable experience for all.
Wrap-Up
The debate ended at 9:04pm. There was not enough time to address all the questions submitted by UNL students. The Daily Nebraskan will relay the remaining questions to the candidates and their responses will be published in an article in the coming days. When the article is published, I will link it here.
The election will be held on MyRed March 1-2, 2022. All current UNL students are eligible to vote. For more information on ASUN, UNL’s student senate, before the election, click here.