Media Credit: Conner Jay

Click here to visit the Emerald's Campus Elections Homepage. Listen to candidate interviews and watch election video.

The final two tickets for ASUO president squared off Monday night in the last formal debate of the election season.

Presidential candidates Sara Hamilton and Emily McLain fielded questions relating to incidental fee money, while their running mates, Athan Papailiou and Chii-San SunOwen, were asked about topics ranging from slate politics to campus safety.

The vice presidential candidates debated first, remaining cordial but taking a few jabs at one another.

SunOwen, speaking about slates, said she and McLain have never been associated with slates and based their endorsements on "qualifications, merits and vision." She said they are more concerned with electing students who really care about issues than with creating internal politics.

Papailiou responded by saying he was disappointed that SunOwen claimed she does not support slates because the list of candidate endorsements on McLain and SunOwen's Web site and fliers are, in his eyes, a slate.

"One of the most important aspects in running an ASUO executive is integrity," Papailiou said.

SunOwen said her ticket's endorsement of other candidates is not a slate because they have not asked for support or even votes from those candidates.

In response to a question about how the stipend model can be reformed, Papailiou said he and Hamilton believe stipends are important, but it is unfair that some groups receive stipends that exceed their programming dollars. He said he supports programs and wants to support student leaders through the stipend model.

SunOwen said she and McLain will not cut stipends. She accused Hamilton and Papailiou of making financial attacks on programs by supporting Senate policies such as the 2.5 percent Programs Finance Committee benchmark.

"My question is, how do you support programs when your actions have already shown that you don't?" she asked.

In response to an audience question about how her ticket would ensure the safety of students on campus in light of Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech, SunOwen said she would ensure the Department of Pubic Safety is focused on important issues so they are prepared for this type of event.

Continued...

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