WSA presidential candidates debate on issues
By Nate Coe
Western Herald
(Alex Youkanna / Western Herald) Western Student Association Presidential candidates Nate Knappen and Stacey Nordstrand step up to the podium on Wednesday for the 2009 Presidential Debates at the SET stage in the Bronco Mall.
Western Student Association presidential candidate Stacey Nordstrand and her running mate, Courtney Dusnmore squared off with opposing presidential candidate Nate Knappen and his running mate, Janine Putnam to answer questions, in the Bernhard Center, Wednesday.
Nordstrand and Dunsmore both currently have active roles within the WSA. Their four major goals they’re advocating are to reach out to students, sustainability on campus, getting more entertainment on campus and to bring the Student Leadership and Activities Programs to the Bernhard Center.
“We have a clear vision for the university. Students deserve a president that works hard for them. And we promise to reach out on day one and start working for you,” Nordstrand said.
Knappen and Putnam are advocating their slogan, “knowledge, experience and engagement.”
“We are pledging to sustainability, diversity, the appropriate use of the Student Assessment Fee, student involvement and student communication,” Knappen said.
Q: How have you prepared for the presidential and vice-presidential positions?
Knappen and Putnam
A: We’ve spent a lot of time talking about all of our great ideas and what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it.
Nordstrand and Dunsmore
A: We’ve worked in the Western Student Association together for the past couple of years and through that we’ve grown as leaders. Both of us have a lot of experience within the WSA and we know how to work with the university’s administration already.
Q: What’s a time you’ve failed to overcome a challenge and how has it made you a better person?
Nordstrand
A: I worked with a student in the residence halls on whether or not it was in her best interest to leave the university. In the end she decided it was and that was really hard for me.
Knappen and Putnam
A: Not being able to think of a failed challenge we want to talk about how hard it is to run a presidential campaign. It takes a lot of time, work and talking to students.
Q: What does sustainability mean to you? Does it go beyond recycling and the environment? And elaborate on your plans for campus.
Knappen and Putnam
A: Sustainability has grown throughout this campus and it’s very important. We plan on increasing options for resident halls, adding receptacles that go beyond just recycling paper. We’ve also talked about creating a ‘go green week’ that would increase awareness on campus.
Nordstrand and Dunsmore
A: We are very excited to work on this from day one. One of our biggest concerns on campus is recycling and we want to make sure we get the university to re-evaluate its waste and recyclability systems.
Q: If you don’t win will you still be involved in the WSA?
All candidate’s answer: Yes.
Q: What characteristics will you look for in a diversity guidance chair?
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: A lot of people think that diversity is what you can see physically but that’s not true. And there won’t be one characteristic we will look for. We will be looking for someone who has previous experience in supporting diversity, has a vast knowledge of diversity and who has the confidence and excitement needed.
Stacey Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore
A: Specifically someone who is excited about diversity and someone excited to work with different groups on campus.
Q: How do you plan on diversifying the WSA?
Stacey Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore
A: We want to make sure we are very student focused and we want to reach out to as many different students as we can.
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: We plan on visiting RSOs that facilitate and advocate diversity and make sure they are all kept in mind when applying for Senate and cabinet positions.
Q: What are your feelings on gender-neutral housing?
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: WMU doesn’t currently have any gender-neutral housing although we’ve already started talking to resident halls and Diane Anderson, vice president of Student Affairs, to see what we can do and what plans we can do to implement it.
Stacey Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore
A: We think it would be an amazing opportunity for WMU to have gender-neutral housing for students to live in. We both have connections with Residence Life so it’s something we can definitely work on.
Q: What makes you more eligible for vice president than your opponent?
Courtney Dunsmore
A: I have WSA experience since my freshman year and through those experiences I’ve learned a lot and I’ve seen how things work through the senate and the cabinet and it’s given me a good view of what’s to come.
Janine Putnam
A: Through my residence hall association I’ve had experience working with students. My leadership experience on campus has prepared me and I also have great contacts with resident life and WMU’s administration.
Q: Do you support partner benefits for WMU faculty and staff and if so, how would you present this to the Board of Trustees?
Stacey Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore
A: We agree with this statement and we would present the Board of Trustees with a resolution by students with support from faculty and staff.
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: We absolutely agree and would push for those benefits. We would get the support of the students and research other universities that have these benefits to use as a supporting argument for them.
Q: What would you do to make WSA run more smoothly?
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: We need to start on time and be more assertive.
Stacey Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore
A: We want to inspire students to take control and after that they will want to be at our meetings and get business done.
Q: In these economic tough times, what can the WSA do for students?
Stacey Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore
A: We can personally relate to students in these tough times. We need to be an advocate for students to the administration when they’re looking at the budget so we can tell the administration what funding needs to stay and what could go.
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: We can let students know what we need to do to keep the tuition low.
Q: What is your opinion on Greek life?
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: We need to bridge the gap and make sure more fraternities and sororities are represented in the Senate.
Stacey Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore
A: We’ve let them know they’re a very important part of campus. The WSA should collaborate with Greek life more as well.
Q: What are some attainable goals and what will your first act as WSA president be?
Stacey Nordstrand
A: The number one thing I want to do as WSA president is make sure students are inspired to write resolutions, get involved and make sure their voice is heard. And I want to tackle the issue of recycling on day one.
Nate Knappen
A: All my goals are attainable but one thing I want is to improve the allocations budget dealing with the Student Assessment Fee.
Q: What type of experience will help you relate to international students on campus?
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: We love international students and the different cultures they bring to WMU.
Stacey Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore
A: We both have a lot of experiences as resident assistants and orientation leaders and we’ve learned a lot about the resources available to all students.
Q: What is your definition of leadership?
Stacey Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore
A: It’s important to be passionate and dedicated but also to be a listener making sure everyone’s voice is heard.
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: A leader should lead by example and be open-minded to everything. We need a leader that balances tasks and relationships.
Q: On a lighter note, if you were diving into a pool what kind of dive would you do?
Nordstrand would do a flip, Dunsmore would do a cannonball and both Knappen and Putnam would do a belly flop.
Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=4371
Posted by HeraldAdmin
on Feb 26 2009. Filed under Campus, News.
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I had class on the day of the debate. I still do not know who to vote for. I know the four candidates, but I do not know their platforms. I have looked at their websites and still get nothing from them. After reading this article, I still get nothing. All I have read is what they think we as a student body want to hear. I want to know the candidates. I want to know what they really think. Uncensored. What their plans really are. Uncensored. Not what they think I want to hear.
I know that part of this is my fault because I wasn’t there, but I am still a student who is curious. I am still a student who is planning on voting. I will not vote blindly, so if I still don’t understand the candidates or their platforms, I won’t vote. I’m not using that as a threat; I am simply stating that I will not vote for who I think is the most attractive or who I am better friends with. I will vote based on platforms. I want to be an informed voter, and even though I am trying to do so, I still feel very uneducated. Does anybody else feel this way?
I truly hope that Western Michigan University’s student body makes the right decision and votes Nordstrand/Dunsmore for the presidency! Looking at both candidates equally, it is clear that these amazing women obviously have more political experience, along with leadership experience. The first time Knappen has become involved on campus was last summer as an Orientation Student Leader. Try again next year…. I am excited to see the great opportunities Nordstrand/Dunsmore will bring to the campus next fall!
Michael, Justin ,
I am appalled by your comments and your attacks against someone’s sexual preferences, whatever they may be. It is people like you that give your school a bad name. Your immature comments justify your stupidity and lack of class. Why hide behind your posts, if your really believe these things why don’t’ you come out and say it to the Herald (Justin). You both are cowards. I am happy to say that I did not attend WMU, I would never want to be associated with such sexually discriminating and uneducated people. You are an embarrassment to your parents and to your school.
WMU students- Do you support people like Justin and Michael? Stand up to people like them, stand for what is right. Vote for Nate and Janine, they wont’ discriminate against race, color, sexuality, nationality or handicaps.
sorry, I meant Justin and None
Could this article be any more bias?!?! First off Nate and Janine are also very active in campus organizations. Nate is the Chief of Operations for WSA, is a student ambassador, orientation student leader, on a committee to reaccrediate the university, amongst other things.
Q: What type of experience will help you relate to international students on campus?
Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam
A: We love international students and the different cultures they bring to WMU.
Seriouslly!! I know he did not saw this! You failed to mention that Nate is a Spanish major who also studied abroad in Spain for a semester. He has great interest in international students and activities on campus.
He also is pursing a major in Organizational Communications and minoring in Marketing.
Western Herald, next time, please have someone who is a little less biased write your articles. And the fact that you let homophobic comments be displayed on your website is disgusting