By Gabriella DeCampo and Michelle Rappaport
Candidates running for senator positions in the Student Government Association at Towson University campaigned at a far-ranging debate last night, with many calling for healthier food options on campus.
Randall Phillips, a transfer student running for office and majoring in exercise science, said healthy food options is very important.
“We need to have healthier choices for students,” Phillips said. “There is not a huge selection that promotes great health.”
Along with the quality of food prepared on campus, the high prices are also a major concern, several candidates said. The meal plans available for students can come in a variety of options. The most popular is 14 meals a week, ideally two a day.
Students must use their 14 meals by Thursday of each week. On Friday morning they start back up again with 14. This can cause a lot of waste because some students aren’t able to use all their meals by Thursday, candidates said. To use all meals up, students will go to markets on campus to try to buy food to get their money’s worth, several candidates said.
Malcom Wright, another student running for the SGA senate, is hoping to reform the dining plan for students.
“Meals should transfer to points and not be lost on Friday,” Wright said.
Making sure no money and meals are wasted is a big importance especially for college students, he said.
There are 35 candidates running for 18 senate spots this year, far more than past years.
“I have no idea why the number is so much higher this year,” said Peter Brophy, head of the election commission. “People want to have a say.”
A lot of candidates running had the same vision in mind: They want to make the student body more aware of what the SGA does and how it directly affects them.
Throughout the small crowd made up of mostly candidates, one student was there to support the elections and hear what people had to say to help her with her vote.
“I don’t know much about the candidates,” said Elizabeth Hayden, junior at Towson. “I have come to the debate before and when I have I have learned. I think every student should come because the candidates give their platforms.”
In addition to the senate candidates, Towson students will also be voting for SGA president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.
According to Towson’s student run newspaper, the Towerlight, this is the first time in 20 years that the candidates running for president and the other three executive committee positions will not have an opponent.
Kevin Kutner, a junior who is majoring in journalism and political science, still gave his initiatives and qualifications for the role of president, even though he is running unopposed.
Kutner said he always dreamed of being president since his freshmen year. He saidhe has worked hard to earn the role and has been continuously speaking with former presidents of the SGA.
One of Kutner’s biggest concerns for the campus was the price of textbooks. His idea was to create a textbook loan program that could help ease the financial burden of students.
Voting for the SGA senate takes place over the next two days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.