Spring Break
Students debate election platforms
TIFFANY STEVENS
Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: News
In preparation for Election Day, several groups on campus decided students needed a "call to consciousness" Tuesday.
The University chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Alpha Theta Alpha and Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society hosted "The Real Obama and McCain: Behind the Platform," to inform the student body about the platforms of the two major candidates.
Jessica Avery, co-chair of civic engagement for NAACP, said the event was created so students can make an informed decision at the polls.
"If you don't go out and vote, you're going to have to expect the unexpected, and you shouldn't have to expect the unexpected if you are a taxpayer or citizen."
Avery encouraged students to vote in honor of civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Susan B. Anthony who fought for voting rights.
The panel of six was tested on knowledge of the Barack Obama and John McCain's policies on education, the economy and the Iraq war.
"Whether or not we should have gone to Iraq will be a great question for your history classes," said David Ballard, former president of the Demosthenian Literary Society and College Republicans. "What we do now is discuss what are we going to do now that we're there so we don't leave the country in shambles."
Zaid Jilani, creator of progressive magazine Stand Up, said violence is down in Baghdad because of McCain.
"John McCain was right about the surge, and because of the surge that he advocated, violence is down 90 percent," Jilani said.
The panelists debated the most about the candidates' economic policies.
Jaiah Scott, executive director of UGA Students for Barack Obama, said fiscally responsible people are in between jobs and can't afford health care.
"And so (tax increases on the wealthy) are one proposed solution to help in this economic crisis," he said.
Shari Baskin, president of Hip-Hop Heads, said basic knowledge of fiscal policy is important for all Americans.
Panelists discussed carpooling to a student's voting district, transportation to precincts by the NAACP and voting early.
The University chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Alpha Theta Alpha and Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society hosted "The Real Obama and McCain: Behind the Platform," to inform the student body about the platforms of the two major candidates.
Jessica Avery, co-chair of civic engagement for NAACP, said the event was created so students can make an informed decision at the polls.
"If you don't go out and vote, you're going to have to expect the unexpected, and you shouldn't have to expect the unexpected if you are a taxpayer or citizen."
Avery encouraged students to vote in honor of civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Susan B. Anthony who fought for voting rights.
The panel of six was tested on knowledge of the Barack Obama and John McCain's policies on education, the economy and the Iraq war.
"Whether or not we should have gone to Iraq will be a great question for your history classes," said David Ballard, former president of the Demosthenian Literary Society and College Republicans. "What we do now is discuss what are we going to do now that we're there so we don't leave the country in shambles."
Zaid Jilani, creator of progressive magazine Stand Up, said violence is down in Baghdad because of McCain.
"John McCain was right about the surge, and because of the surge that he advocated, violence is down 90 percent," Jilani said.
The panelists debated the most about the candidates' economic policies.
Jaiah Scott, executive director of UGA Students for Barack Obama, said fiscally responsible people are in between jobs and can't afford health care.
"And so (tax increases on the wealthy) are one proposed solution to help in this economic crisis," he said.
Shari Baskin, president of Hip-Hop Heads, said basic knowledge of fiscal policy is important for all Americans.
Panelists discussed carpooling to a student's voting district, transportation to precincts by the NAACP and voting early.
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