A successful debate focused on issues

When the rules of cordial debate were set out at last night’s WLUSU presidential candidate roundtable, I was unsure that any of the presidential candidates would get into enough discussion to make the room’s atmosphere heated.

But it did – there could have been well over the two hours of discussion that we had allotted for.

Though dialogue it did get passionate at times, especially surrounding issues that the candidates had a personal or professional attachment to, at no point did debate get personal or unprofessional.

At times, candidates were candid in saying that they were offended or distraught over the allegations of their peers at the table, but with rebuttals allowed the free flow of discussion, as all parties had a chance to bring their concerns to the table.

This surprised me.

I assumed that either no one would have anything to say, or discussion would get personal and candidates would shut down as they got offended.

But instead, the hard-hitting topics of campus clubs, the possibility of a strike next year and the issue of keeping Laurier’s “small school” feel amongst a growing population sparked interesting rhetoric.

All candidates expressed their excitement at the prospect of bringing issues to the forefront of the election – an election few students participate in.

When all was said and done, what the candidates had in mind and expressed in their closing statements was the same. Whether they disagree with each others’ platforms or not, the candidates came out and discussed in order to increase awareness and hopefully spark some student involvement.

No matter where they stood on the issues, at the end of the day they shook hands like gentlemen, which is always admirable.

Click here to watch a recording of last nights debate.

Alanna Wallace
In Depth Editor