TCU Presidential candidates meet in debate

In an attempt to firmly establish and clarify their plans to improve the undergraduate body just one day before elections, TCU Presidential candidates Chike Aguh and Joe Mead voiced their opinions on campaign issues in a debate last night.

Perhaps owing to the amount of controversy and confusion surrounding this year's presidential election, the debate received what one Senator called an "abysmally bad" turnout, composed almost exclusively of Senators, and began 15 minutes late.

In an opening statement that outlined his accountability and outreach focused platform, Aguh described plans for utilizing the administration's services to help the community, maintaining the vitality of the Greek system, and teaching students how to make use of all Tufts has to offer.

Aguh clarified several unique components he feels are key to his campaign, including the attention he has given to increasing awareness of diversity at Tufts through training programs. He believes there should be mandatory diversity training for all junior faculty saying that, "an Ivy league degree only precludes the presence of intelligence. It doesn't preclude the absence of ignorance."

Mead, whose opening statements followed, said that his platform was, and would always be, under constant revision based on the changing needs and concerns of the student body.

While he maintained most of the basic tenets of his platform, such as his focus on improving communication between the administration and the Greek system and working with the Taskforce on the Undergraduate Experience, Mead announced the implementation of a gender studies program as a major addition to his campaign.

Working to implement such a program, he said, would provide students with the opportunity for an education that they couldn't get at any other school. "We can't blame students for ignorance if we don't educate them," Mead said, expressing his hope that this new program would work to decrease the number of homophobic incidents so common to the Tufts campus.

Mead and Aguh were both acutely aware of the meager turnout for the debate, and thus stressed the need to fortify the connection between the Senate and the student body, but disagreed on the ways to do so.

Aguh said he plans to increase the Senate-student body connection through his recently developed outreach bylaw.

Mead, however, said that he felt the outreach bylaw was "largely ineffective" because it was introduced too late in the semester and limited its scope to groups. If elected, Mead said, he will implement the constituency bylaw, which he claims is currently ready to facilitate outreach to all students, not just groups.

Aguh and Mead also both expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal of the four-college system by the Taskforce on the Undergraduate Experience. While Aguh suggested that the administration draft a mandate encouraging people to be more involved and try new things, Mead said that the development of a clear mission statement would foster a more cohesive community.

Additionally, Aguh fielded more questions about his proposed TCUnited program. Although he admitted that this will not be an easily accomplished goal, Aguh asserted that as TCU President, he would work with the administration to develop a program through which life skills that are developed during extracurricular activities could be reflected on the student transcript.

Aguh and Mead left the audience with their final thoughts on how they would like to impact the Tufts community. Aguh wants to create a better community in which "students can just be students" and not have to worry about institutional problems. Mead echoed Aguh's desire to serve the students. "I want every student to have a deeper love and a deeper understanding of what Tufts is," he said, emphasizing the strength of his platform. "There are no gaps, no question marks," he said. "My platform will be accomplished if I am elected."

Elections for the TCU Senate president are being held today from 9 a.m. until midnight.