SG presidential candidates prepare for first debate

Current Student Body President Chris Griffin (left) participates in a 2016 debate.
ORACLE FILE PHOTO/JACKIE BENITEZ
The two Student Government presidential nominees will go head-to-head this evening in an attempt to gain voters’ attention in their first debate of the campaign.
Doors to the Marshall Student Center Ballroom open at 6 p.m. and the candidates are allowed to campaign among the crowd. Promptly at 7 p.m., presidential candidates Moneer Kheireddine and Ryan Soscia will participate in the hour-long debate.
This year, guidelines have been moderately changed. Rather than taking questions from student submissions, the Election Rules Commission (ERC) supervisor created questions with the goal of having more accurate relevancy to the candidate’s respective campaigns than in the past, according to Jennifer Bielen, assistant director of government advising, training and operations.
David Payne, associate professor and interim chair of the communications department, will be moderating and reviewed the list of questions suggested by the ERC before picking 10-15 for the debate.
Topics will range from academics to university-scale subjects, according to Bielen.
Wednesday, the joint Presidential and Vice Presidential Ticket Debate will feature a similar format — except campaigning before the event will not be permitted, and it will be moderated by former Student Body President, Brian Goff, and Vice President George Papadeas.
“We highly encourage students outside of the staff campaign to attend,” Bielen said. “This allows undecided voters (to) make a sound judgment on who to vote for.”
More Stories
DeSantis announces goal to minimize diversity efforts in higher education, USF’s response unclear
Following a request to the state’s public universities in late December to detail costs related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory (CRT), Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez announced Tuesday that the state will attempt to curb DEI efforts in higher education. As of Wednesday, USF hasn’t responded to the governor’s new plans […]
Recent anti-abortion legislation produces mixed reactions from student orgs
Following a rise in legislation targeting abortion such as the Born-Alive abortion bill, students continue to be placed in difficult situations as they may lack the money and transportation necessary when seeking an abortion, according to Planned Parenthood Generation Action president Prachi Misra. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, passed Jan. 11 in the House […]
Lone candidate in search announced as provost
Prasant Mohapatra, vice chancellor for research at the University of California, Davis, will start as the provost and executive vice president of academic affairs on March 1, according to a Monday universitywide email. Mohapatra was the only candidate in the running for the position, as the original search that occurred last fall was scrapped when […]
DeSantis requests data from USF Health on transgender students
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Office of Planning and Budget’s new survey requested that 12 Florida public universities release information about its students that sought “gender-affirming” care in the last five years – USF’s campuses and USF Health ranked at the top of the list. The official release of the survey did not state DeSantis’ objective in […]
Law officially inaugurated as USF’s eight president in ceremony
President Rhea Law was inducted as USF’s eighth president during her investiture ceremony on Thursday. During her address to attendees, Law emphasized the importance of USF’s growth, as well as what it has achieved in recent years and the role of community in facilitating such success. “We’ve transformed from a small commuter school into a […]
‘Increase Black enrollment now’: Protestors interrupt Law’s inauguration
A group of six protesters with the Students for a Democratic Society disrupted Rhea Law’s inauguration ceremony on Thursday right before she received the President’s Chain of Office. The protesters held up a black banner that read “We won’t wait. Increase Black enrollment” while repeatedly chanting “Increase Black enrollment now.” Board of Trustees Chair Will […]