HUSA, Trustee Candidates Kick-Off Season

Election season has returned to Howard once again. On Monday night, many flocked to the Blackburn Ballroom for the first political speak out of the year. Current Undergraduate Trustee Erin Rigsby, former Trustee Nnamdi Anozie and former HUSA president Marcus Ware served as members of the evening's panel.

The speak out began with the undergraduate trustee candidates. An undergraduate trustee's role is to represent the student body at the Board of Trustee meetings. Out of the four candidates, only Lesley Pace whose platform is "Pace for Progress", Adedamola Sokoya standing by his "Start" platform, and Marcus Carey with his "Do Something" platform were present.

When the candidates were asked how well they could adapt to certain situations that are unexpected at the board meetings, all three candidates said they would be able to handle the situations accordingly.  Pace elaborated by promising to edit and revise proposals that are dismissed by the board. The candidates were also asked to name at least three of the current trustees. Surprisingly, Sokoya was unable to do so.

However, current trustee Rigsby didn't think the candidates had a clear understanding of the role of the undergraduate trustee.

The panel collectively agreed.

To sum up their portion, they were asked to rate Erin Rigsby's performace. Unlike Sokoya and Carey who were both satisfied with Rigsby's track record, Pace gave her a "C".

 In closing, the candidates also gave the audience a quick summary of their platform's goals and ideas. Generally, the candidates were knowledgeable and quick to answer the questions brought forth to them.

After the undergraduate trustee candidates presented their slates, the four HUSA executive president and vice-president platforms took the stage, in respective order.

Julius Holmes and Pali Payne on the "End of the Run Around" platform , Brittney Foxhall and Madiagne Starr running under the "Believe" platform. Followed, was Brandon Dean and James Alexander representing their "HUSA ANEW 52" platform, and finally Cameron Clarkson and Rachael Sanni running under their "We R Howard" platform.

As the undergraduate trustee candidates were, the panel immediately questioned each platform about number one issues, such as registration and Bisonweb errors, and HUSA grants. They also questioned their motives and plans to deal with annual tuition increases. Unlike the undergraduate trustee candidates, some of the HUSA candidates seemed to beat around the bush, or blatantly avoid many of the questions posed to them, and the objectives of their platforms tended to be unclear at times. The panel hit the HUSA candidates with equally difficult questions, and as a whole the candidates handled it well.

Students, like Brianna Jackson, a junior biology major,  felt the evening left a lot to the imagination.

"I will have to watch closely from here on out, because I feel some of the questions weren't really answered," Jackson said. 

Jenelle Coy, sophomore Public Relations major, said, "The event was hilarious and entertaining, yet informative. I will pay more attention than I did tonight in the future."

With a packed auditorium, and social networking sites buzzing about it, Howard University is watching closely this year to ensure they elect suitable candidates. There are still many unanswered questions each platform will be faced with as they continue through the election season. Part two of the heated speakout will commence on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7:00 p.m.