Both Matt Correia and Ryan Kelly have ideas for change on the Syracuse University campus.

They shared these ideas Tuesday night when the Student Association hosted a debate at 8 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel between the two candidates running for SA president: Correia, a junior economics and philosophy major, and Kelly, a junior advertising and marketing major.

The debate featured questions from a panel of students and faculty representing various areas of SU student life as well as audience members.

The debate was attended by about 50 students, some of whom were members of SA.

Following a question and answer session with comptroller candidate Mike Rizzolo, a sophomore finance and accounting major, the two presidential candidates took their respective sides of the stage.

Kelly began by outlining his vision for the next SA session. He stated that a president needs three qualities: leadership, experience and passion, and indicated that he has all three.

‘Because I have been involved so long, I can get started right away,’ he said.

One of Kelly’s plans is to revamp the Schine Underground, which he revealed visually using a diagram that showed how the space can be used at all times by students to interact.

As Matt Correia prepared the beginning of his own speech, a cell phone rang. Correia smiled, and then jokingly announced to the audience, ‘That’s my theme music, by the way.’

Correia spoke about the perfect candidate having the ‘complete package,’ including a stance on the issues and knowledge of how SA works internally.

During the first session of the debate, each of the panel members posed one question to both candidates. Kelly had the opportunity to answer first, then Correia spoke his mind. In the second round, each panel member was able to ask one more question, and the two candidates switched the order for who answered first. Following both rounds, audience questions were read by the Board of Elections and Memberships chair, sophomore broadcast journalism and policy studies major Crystal Beavers.

Much of the concern expressed by panel and audience members revolved around the recent campus issues of diversity and problems on South Campus.

Correia continuously brought to attention his experience as president of the Residence Hall Association and his goal for increasing collaboration among student groups and students in general around campus.

‘The university is expanding – some of the freshmen need to live on South,’ he said when a question was posed about the possibility of moving all freshmen to North Campus. Correia went on to explain that it is necessary to make the South Campus experience better for all students.

Kelly expressed his concern about a lack of resources on South Campus, and promised to work on bringing more. He stated that a lack of communication among students in general was an issue he was most concerned about.

‘We need to take community action now,’ he said. ‘Some people don’t feel safe on South.’

Other issues touched on included a lack of student involvement and interaction and how the candidates would have handled things had they been president during the 50th session.

During Rizzolo’s question and answer session at the beginning of the evening’s events, he outlined his platform for what he wants to accomplish as comptroller, stating that his main goal is to help student groups get funded.

‘My door will always be open,’ he said.

Many questions were asked of Rizzolo by the panel, including several that had to do with making sure all student groups were treated fairly during the budgeting process.

Rizzolo assured the panel and the audience that he wants to be there to help any group having trouble with their budget, and expressed a desire to put together an information sheet that would tell exactly what a group needs to put together when they submit a request for funding.

At the end of the debate, audience members seemed split between which presidential candidates won overall.

Some thought Kelly did an overall better job.

‘He had a lot more substance,’ said junior sociology major Jasmine Jackson. ‘He obviously thought more about the issues before the debate.’

‘I would feel more comfortable with Ryan,’ said senior political science major Khadija Mehter. ‘It seemed as if Kelly knew the system. He has clear-cut plans.’

Others felt certain Correia was the clear winner.

‘I think Matt eloquently displayed maturity and a display of knowledge on the issues students face and would like to see changed,’ said sophomore history major Anthony Grant.

‘I would say the issue I wanted to hear most about was collaboration,’ said junior industrial design major Sarina Fiero. ‘Since freshman year Matt has had experience with student life and he has many great ideas to implement.’

Elections will begin Monday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 17. Voting will be conducted on the SA Web site, http://sa.syr.edu.

Published on November 7, 2006 at 12:00 pm