Photo by Najwa Hossain | The Signal
In his opening statement, Gray caught the attention of the audience by asking students whether they would like a fall break next fall, and followed up saying he only makes promises he can keep.
Nguyen’s first point made was his representation of minority groups facing discrimination and unjust treatment. After the first question of leadership experience preparing him for the EVP position, Nguyen made a point to note he has addressed concerns of multiple university-wide organizations through polls and various SGA committees.
Gray added his involvement in multiple organizations has prepared him to be able to handle the diverse campus, and went about explaining his six-part P.O.U.N.C.E. plan.
‘What about police officers on campus?,’ The Signal asked, to which Southwell claimed police are not racially profiling, and reminded the audience that even though it is a college campus, “we are surrounded by Atlanta, and there’s crime and different things which we cannot protect ourselves from.” Southwell said he’d like to implement more panels for the students to voice their opinions, increase the amount of metal detectors in the libraries, as well as advocate for a Campus Safety Committee.
“School is the last place you want to come to and feel unsafe,” he said. “I should not walk into a classroom and worry that my laptop is going to get stolen.”
Nguyen followed up, informing the Senator that such a committee already exists, and has been working on implementing a campus safety campaign.
As for Gray’s recent push to implement a 24-hour library study space, in last night’s debate he said that the first priority would be to make sure such an initiative would be safe for the student, and that his goal is to make it happen by next year.
The candidate was later asked how we would re-act to protesting marks around the Georgia State campus, similar to pro-Trump phrases seen in the past weeks around Emory.
“I feel like protest is your voice, and you should be able to use your voice effectively,” he said. However, he said if GSU experienced similar events, his first move would be to make sure the students contacted Mark Becker for their concerns, and that comes with improving relationships with the administration.
“[A protest] took place in the Honors College about a month ago,” Nguyen said. “What I told them was that I wanted them to come to our Senate meetings and speak to the president himself. I am proud to advocate for them.”
In closing, Gray told the audience that whatever the student voice is, he will represent it.
