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2016 SGA debate live blog

Follow key quotes from each of the Student Government Association’s presidential and student trustee candidates here starting at 5:30 p.m.

For a more in-depth look at each speaking candidate’s campaign, click here.

5:34 p.m.: Presidential candidates James Christopher and Sim Dy prepare to deliver their opening statements.

5:40 p.m.: Moderator and College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Assistant Dean Frank Talty introduces the format of the debate. All questions from the audience will be asked to both candidates in the debate.

5:43 p.m.: Christopher, the incumbent president, begins his opening statement.

5:47 p.m.: Fighting for affordability and connecting the campuses by improving Pawtucket Street are two of Christopher’s four main issues to address.

5:48 p.m.: Promoting inclusivity and adding access to resources are Christopher’s other two principles his campaign is grounded in, along with his running mate Alex Karabatsos.

5:49 p.m.: Accessibility and transparency are Dy’s main issues to address, he said in his opening statement.

5:50 p.m.: “We can’t say we’re representing you guys and you don’t know how to contact us,” said Dy. He plans to have senate meeting live-streamed, if elected.

5:52  p.m.: Dy outlines his plans to promote representation of and participation in student clubs and organizations.

5:53 p.m.: Questions open to the presidential candidates. Dy responds first to the opening question from the audience regarding affordability.

5:54 p.m.: Dy says he has worked with academic affairs to try to encourage the use of more open-source textbooks.

5:56 p.m.: “Each and every year, I will be at the State House,” Christopher says on keeping tuition and fees affordable for students.

5:57 p.m.: Christopher explains a plan to create a payment plan for parking decals for students in financial need.

5:59 p.m.: “Parking prices are more likely than not to be frozen next year,” said Christopher.

6:02 p.m.: Dy said he and his running mate John Kilgo plan to eliminate their salaries if elected in favor of funding other student organizations.

6:05 p.m.: Christopher notes that the student government stipends were created long before his tenure, but he says he and other executive board members would not be able to perform their duties under the financial stress of paying for college.

6:08 p.m.: “Building a team is heavily important part of being student body president,” said Christoper on interviewing and nominating e-board members.

6:10 p.m: Dy said he wants students to be able to reach them online and plans to reach out himself to ensure greater transparency for student government.

6:12 p.m.: Christopher notes Karabatsos’s involvement in What’s Up Wednesday and the student government’s involvement in the Chancellor’s Forum. “I do have a clear record of solid communication to the student body,” he said.

6:15 p.m.: “Even though I’m involved with X, Y and Z organizations, I know what I need to do as a student and as a student leader,” said Dy.

6:16 p.m.: “I’m not here for anything but the experience and improving students’ lives,” said Dy in his concluding statement.

6:17 p.m.: “If I get your vote, I promise you, I will not let you down,” said Christopher in his concluding statement.

6:18 p.m.: Presidential debate concludes followed by a short recess before student trustee candidates Jesse Kruszka and Lindy Reed take the stage.

6:28 p.m.: Kruszka and Reed prepare to deliver their opening statements.

6:29 p.m.: Reed details her work on the academic affairs and three other committees, including helping start an advising survey and grants for professors to use open-source textbooks. She says her number one goal is to keep UMass affordable.

6:33 p.m.: Kruszka details his experience as academic affairs chair in student government. Voting for affordability is not the only important of being student trustee, he says. He wants to “make it easier for students to enjoy UMass Lowell and other UMass schools.”

6:38 p.m.: Serving on the board of trustees includes making decisions that affect the perception and quality of life at UMass campuses, Kruszka said.

6:40 p.m.: UMass Lowell is one of the two UMass campuses whose student trustee will have a vote within the board of trustees this year, said Reed.

6:43 p.m.: Securing state funding is a critical part of funding higher education, Reed said. She noted the tuition retention program, which keeps dues paid to UMass Lowell for tuition and fees within the Lowell campus, not spread to other UMass campuses.

6:45 p.m.: Kruzka details his work on the issue of students not being able to register for classes while having an outstanding balance. “It’s important to look at how we can freeze fees,” said Kruszka.

6:49 p.m.: Kruszka said he will make the best decisions for UMass Lowell students over the UMass system or other campuses.

6:52 p.m.: Reed said she will not vote for anything that would negatively affect students as trustee, even if it benefits the university system.

6:53 p.m.: “I have always been a supporter and defender of Lowell,” Reed said of her life growing up in Lowell and her desire to be UMass Lowell’s student trustee.

6:55 p.m.: Kruszka talks about his working experience since “the youngest age you can possibly work at.” “I live to be productive. I like to be effective,” he said.

6:58 p.m.: Reed explained her work to add the grade appeals process to all student syllabi effective next semester as one of her biggest experiences and qualifications in response to Kruszka, along with participation in club sports and school spirit for athletic teams.

7:01 p.m.: Kruszka says joining other student organizations along with student government and working two jobs would be “spreading himself too thin” in response to Reed’s question.

7:04 p.m.: Kruszka says his record his speaks for itself in terms of advocating for the student body while a member of student government. He said he will not vote on anything that would negatively affect UMass Lowell students if elected trustee. He urged students to research his experience and note the growth on campus as a result of his work in his closing statement.

7:06 p.m.: Reed also urged students to view more information on her website and be educated voters. “If I’m elected student trustee, then my number priority will be student trustee,” said Reed in her closing statement. She said she also wants to involve students in UMass Lowell land purchase and use decisions, as well as expanding the co-op program for students.

7:08 p.m.: Student trustee debate concludes.

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