SA-Hatchet Debate LIVEBLOGGING

9:25 p.m. EST

And with that, the 2009 SA-HATCHET Debate has ended! Thanks so much for joining us and for continuing election coverage go to gwradio.com - on the air, online, 24 hours a day! And listen every single weekday to the WRGW News at 6 and News In Depth on Sunday from 12 to 1. I'm Jared Pliner. For our News Director Mallory Thompson, Adam Rosenbloom and everyone here at WRGW thanks for reading and we'll see you on the air!

WRGW's Debate Winners:  Jordan Phillips and Louis Laverone

Final word counts:

Advocacy: 13

Nicole and Brand: 1

Negative mentions of the Aswani administration:  10

9:23 p.m. EST

Hatchet endorsements come tomorrow.  Dessert is upstairs.  Debate ends.

9:19 p.m. EST

George Bruener says he looks different...but look at our current president.  He says he doesn't have posters up around campus because he doesn't want to conform to the system.   Bruener is a man of the people....or a people person.  Says he's not an insider, but he can find the answers.

Kyle Boyer says that he's been blessed to serve as EVP.  He tried his best and ran the Senate fairly effectively.  To clarify the metro situation - Metro came to meet with GW administrators on Thursday.  He doesn't want to stand on a soapbox.  Add 2 to the advocacy count.  That makes 13.  Kyle wants us to be riled up.  And he gives several Oscar-like thank yous.  Gets rousing round of applause.

Bindleglass wants to make sure everyone feels like a part of something bigger.  It's our student government, its our campus. She says that together we can take back the SA.

9:17 p.m. EST

Sammy Lopez says he takes student needs seriously.  He wants microwaves.  Now he is taking the mic to center stage.  He's advocating for student rights to microwave Hot Pockets.  He says he's going to fight his butt off.

Justin Hollimon plugs his WANTED acronym.  He wants to advocate for student orgs.  Up to 11.  He closes with a Michelangelo quote.  Wow.  That's deep.

9:14 p.m. EST

Nick Polk wants simple attainable goals.  Find him and tell him.  He says the important thing is to vote and "thanks y'all."

Jordan Phillips says the SA is more interested in playing politics than advocating.  Count is up to 9.  He also loves sustainability.  Dining is still awful and nothing has happened to the metro cards.  Accountability.  Now we're up to 10.  Wants to bring real change to this campus.  Says he's ready to lead.

9:13 p.m. EST

Roper almost curses because he forgot the 90 second recap.  He had already dismissed the crowd.



9:11 p.m. EST

Lopez's favorite teletubby is PoPo.  He's talking about why the increased SA student fee didn't pass the first time.  He also made up a word.  Incredulism.  hmmm.

9:10 p.m. EST

Polk:  Says about Sodexho, If we show them, they will come?

9:08 p.m. EST

Ironically, the only one who doesn't take the Chipotle/Qudoba dining question is Sammy Lopez, who's answered burrito for every one word answer question.

9:06 p.m. EST

Julie expresses desire to have an executive blog.

9:05 p.m. EST

4/7 candidates said they would vote for Jordan... I smell ENDORSEMENT!

9:04 p.m. EST

A few say "burrito" and "enchilada"

9:02 p.m. EST

Andrew Ramonas steps up to mic, brags about his journalistic past and asks candidates who they would vote for if they couldn't vote for themselves? Someone says Kyle, a few announce candidates who have no chance of winning, a few say they're impressed w/ Jordan Phillips, Julie Bindelglass snaps out of her haze

9:01 p.m. EST

OVERTIME!!

8:59 p.m. EST

Nick Polk speaks to increased GW veteran resources...where do they get housing?? We should take care of veterans who come back from combat w/ disabilities....in-class note-takers etc.

8:58 p.m. EST

Question to all the candidates: Mindlessly repeating GW STAND's video questions {see below}

ALL SAID YES! ...one responded in French

8:57 p.m. EST

Kyle admits being a little "naive" running as EVP...underestimated the power of the president!!! What? You thought the position of EVP was actually a legitimate one?!? Mr. Boyer! Naive, indeed....

8:56 p.m. EST

Audience member to Kyle: Communication is a two-way street! If you can't communicate w/ your president (as a team) how do you expect to lead and effectively communicate if elected?

8:55 p.m. EST

Hey Nick: Why didn't you do anything about the Unity Ball?

Response: I'm just one senator. Nice abdication of responsibility!!!

Julie emphasizes that EVERYBODY is invited to attend Finance Comm meetings

8:54 p.m. EST

Nick Polk says: "Vishal hasn't made eye contact w/ me since October....No Joke"

8:53 p.m. EST

Logan Dobson directs question to Julie: Why did you say nobody thought the Unity Ball was a bad idea? I was at the meeting! I said it was a bad idea!! LAUGHTER from audience

Julie barely treads water...

8:51 p.m. EST

Julie gives a stiff response on giving student orgs more space and funding...prompted by question from College Republicans - GO McCain!!!!...oh, what? he lost? I apologize.

8:48 p.m. EST

Calls for cooperation with Sodexho in coming up w/ food options that students ACTUALLY want

Brunner says he LOVES teamwork...woo woo

Sammy Lopez reintroduces himself in attempts to embarrass the questioners

"Advocacy" count: 8

8:47 p.m. EST

George Brunner rambles...Jared SLEEPY...

8:45 p.m. EST

Boyer calls for increased web presence and credits Vishal with better infomail!!! ....Slow clap from Blogger's Alley

8:44 p.m. EST

Logan refreshes my memory on the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah

8:43 p.m. EST

Phillips addresses need to treat all student orgs equally...and extending hours of Student Health...Condoms on SUNDAYS!

8:41 p.m. EST

Hollimon expresses his desire to increase Vern Express service

Hollimon, when asked who he would approach to talk about GWorld dining options, he says that he would go to that "guy" (can't remember name)...crowd lowers their heads in utter disappointment...a Sarah Palin moment

8:40 p.m. EST

GW Stand attempts to impress us with their splendid ability to pronounce foreign names...

Question: Would you work with P. Knapp to continue STAND scholarship program?

8:39 p.m. EST

I just want to reach out and caress Polk's auburn hair...

8:38 p.m. EST

Julie talks about increasing storage space for performing arts orgs

Nick Polk says he has no artistic ability whatsoever

8:37 p.m. EST

Colonial Brass video question airs (features them playing the Fight Song...with everyone joining in to a rousing Hail to the Buff & Blue!)

The question asks how vital are the Arts and how will you sustain them?

8:36 p.m. EST

Polk says the Colonial "figure" scares him! I wholeheartedly agree!!!

Flanigen asks about whether the candidates would support smokers' ability to smoke in outdoor areas!

8:35 p.m. EST

Lopez: "Hippo all the way, baby!!!"

8:34 p.m. EST

Sarah Scire wastes our time w/ a question about Hippo merchandise v. Colonial merchandise...

8:33 p.m. EST

Brunner says recovering from his addiction "made him a better person" and that he "shouldn't be judged" for it

A really meaningful response

8:32 p.m. EST

Brunner addresses his former drug addiction

8:31 p.m. EST

Julie says, "I have a lot of friends"...wow, that's a wonderful qualification! What's measuring stick are we using? Julie's make-up does look beautiful, though

What are your thoughts on arming UPD?

Responses:

OPPOSE

OPPOSE

OPPOSE

Lopez: BURRITO

OPPOSE

OPPOSE

8:28 p.m. EST

Logan Dobson turns to me and says that we "have no readers"...Breaking News: Logan will never again join us for News In Depth

8:27 p.m. EST

"Vishal" tally: 7

I SO wish Vishal was in the audience right now...the way the panel is attacking him is comparable to how Travis the Monkey attacked that woman's face!

8:25 p.m. EST

Brunner says: "you can't see through a wall"...WHAT?

Talks about experiences (and student leadership) at Westchester Community College

Kyle Boyer compliments Capp & Kroeger! Tally: 1

8:24 p.m. EST

Scire interrupts Hollimon and asks him to refer to one thing that Vishal did that was worthwhile...says the Unity Ball was a good concept...poorly applied!

George says something about Bob Marley!?!

8:23 p.m. EST

Lopez says the group of candidates should be narrowed to weed out the legitimate ones (with the purest intentions)...NOW WE'RE TALKING!

Hollimon quotes Abraham Lincoln...people laugh...Justin reads from paper...this is a joke...

8:22 p.m. EST

Someone just approached the "Alley" and slammed WRGW...he'll be jumped in the shadows behind SMPA

8:21 p.m. EST

Referring to extracting money, Hollimon says: "No Julie. It's not easy" HEATED!!

8:20 p.m. EST

Kyle Boyer is dressed like my grandfather!

8:19 p.m. EST

Julie is WAY too rehearsed...I'm not buying what she's saying...I'm being bamboozled!!!

8:17 p.m. EST

Hollimon says that he will not change the allocations process...student orgs should plan ahead! OUCH!! Hollimon now says: "I don't understand what you're asking"...FLIP-FLOPPING ensues!

8:16 p.m. EST

Video submission by Amelia West and Cory Struble of the College Democrats...how will you make it easier for student orgs to access money?

8:15 p.m. EST

Roper scolds candidates about inter-panelist conversation (or attacks)...Bindelglass seems like she's "elsewhere"

8:14 p.m. EST

Nick Polk implies he's a constitutional scholar

Says he even looked at the US Constitution and basically says that GW students are smarter than the people who wrote it.....OMG...I feel like my faith in the SA has increased exponentially!

8:12 p.m. EST

Justin Phillips takes a harsh swipe at Boyer..."Where was Kyle" when the SA allocated 50k towards Unity Ball snafu? Kyle argues that he had no idea about Ball until he saw flyer in personal mailbox...YEAH RIGHT!

Launches a not-so-subtle attack on Bindelglass and Finance Committee

Julies cites a "bait and switch"..."nobody really knew what was going on" Logan Dobson (to my left) says: I DID!!!

8:11 p.m. EST

Boyer...SA spends time elsewhere...resources WASTED...is this a self-critique?!?

Bindelglass gives overly-rehearsed response

8:10 p.m. EST

Brunner says more power sources in Gelman and shuttle from 1957 E St. to City Hall

8:09 p.m. EST

Hollimon emphasizes funding for smaller student orgs

8:08 p.m. EST

Jordan Phillips mentions spending the Unity Ball money on Alternative Spring Breaks - $7,000 and using the rest to outfit Building JJ with solar panels.

8:07 p.m. EST

RECAP: Polk says we should give Unity Ball $ back to student orgs...

8:06 p.m. EST

Breaking News: Fmr. SA President Nicole Capp in the house! Will probably just shake her head and lament...

8:05 p.m. EST

Nick Polk talks about allocation of SA funds...lacks preparation

8:04 p.m. EST

Lopez chalks "swastika" incident up to a huge "exaggeration..."

8:03 p.m. EST

Lopez says in the wake of ACTUAL discrimination/hatred he would take it very seriously...it would be "unacceptable."

Springer presses question for no apparent reason...lofty hypotheticals...who's feeding him these questions?

8:02 p.m. EST

Question from Springer asks Lopez about Hatchet op-ed in which he implores people to "move on" in wake of "swastika incident"

Lopez says we were victimizing the victim who victimizes self! ....what? Cites his experiences as a Puerto Rican student

8:01 p.m. EST

George Brunner gives incoherent response

8:00 p.m. EST

Justin Hollimon emphasizes the need to define the SA for people who don't really know what it does (or is supposed to do)

7:59 p.m. EST

Jordan Phillips says: "I don't know how you take back the SA from inside the SA"...

7:57 p.m EST

Sarah Scire sideswipes Bindelglass w/ her car..."TAKE BACK THE SA"...from whom, Julie?!? You're the chair of the Finance Committee!

Scire follow-up: What does "TAKE BACK THE SA" mean?

7:56 p.m. EST

Boyer says it's an unfair characterization...says it's easy to blame Vishal for everything

Emphasizes his own work ethics and merits...judge him on that!

7:55 p.m. EST

Clip from Boyer interview on GWTV played for audience...in tape, Kyle refuses to levy criticism on Vishal

Question: If you're part of the problem, why should people vote for you?

7:54 p.m. EST

Loud applause: Boyer, Phillips & Polk

7:53 p.m. EST

Presidential candidates take their seats at the table

7:52 p.m. EST

Troubadours leave stage

7:51 p.m. EST

HUGE CROWD! Standing room only...it's like an Obama rally (minus the overwhelming hope)

7:50 p.m. EST

Breaking News: Vishal's AIM away status says he's at a "Humor and Leadership" class...that's blissfully ironic...at least he has the "humorous" part right...laughing stock lol

7:49 p.m. EST

The Troubadours are actually quite good...spot on

Side note: Normally, a capella makes me inexplicably nervous, but not this time

7:48 p.m. EST

Mallory Thompson suggests committing petty theft on the "Blogger's Alley" signs...I just called UPD

7:47 p.m. EST

GW Troubadours start to sing (they're a music department-sponsored co-ed a capella group, btw)

7:46 p.m. EST

Brief intermission...some music expected

Some political hacks approach the blogging table to "butter up" Logan Dobson

Brand Kroeger is hovering...I fear for my personal safety

The Chief Judge of the Student Court stops by...

7:43 p.m. EST

Lifton says he'll hold a knife to Sodexho's throat...touts more student study space as major issue! I'm glad he sees what's important

Roper is sitting on his stool with a stopwatch, timing responses...Lifton hits 1:30 on the button! People snicker at Roper's hyper-serious nature...he refers to himself as a 'journalist'...lol

7:42 p.m. EST

Laverone explains basic mathematics...says he may travel to New England or the West Coast upon graduation...pledges to make school more affordable, says that he's attending ENTIRELY on financial aid and scholarships - great, human, forthright answer

7:41 p.m. EST

Roper asks EVP candidates to provide closing remarks (plea for votes)...Goodland comments on competitors' good looks, good smiles, nice suits and pointless Facebooking

Logan Dobson (sitting to my left) pledges his support for Goodland...duly noted

7:40 p.m. EST

Sarah Scire drops a huge bomb on Lifton...why didn't you leave the cabinet?!? In short, so many others jumped ship...why not you? Scire basically craps all over administration, calling it "dysfunctional"

7:39 p.m. EST

EVP candidates respond to question regarding "shared vision"...Lifton calls for BIG IDEAS..."if it takes 4 years, it takes 4 years..."

7:38 p.m. EST

Michael Komo and Allied in Pride colleagues leave auditorium...reasons unclear

7:37 p.m. EST

Springer asks about NROTC Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy and serviceman expelled for being gay...

Did the university do enough for that student (in one word answer format): 3 unanimous "no's"...

7:36 p.m. EST

Lifton says: change the dorms to gender-neutral! Inherently discriminatory...will fight for LGBT students

7:35 p.m. EST

According to Laverone: changing the Student Code of Conduct to include LGBT students in anti-discrimination clause

7:34 p.m. EST

Goodland asks what "LGBT" acronym stands for...OMG...cites intolerant views on campus...Scire asks for evidence...gives none...says he has no idea regarding LGBT issues (minus the 't')

This is bordering on offensive...

7:33 p.m. EST

YouTube-style video questions! Allied in Pride asks about "most pressing issues facing LGBT students..."

7:32 p.m. EST

Lifton recites his resume and accomplishments...pass the TUMS, I'm feeling nauseated...

7:31 p.m. EST

Flanigen: Lifton, you said you worked with administrators this past year...PROVE IT

7:30 p.m. EST

Scire: explain a non-binding resolution

7:29 p.m. EST

Laverone is ultra-serious, yet intelligent and beautifully prepared...side note: his barber should be shot

7:28 p.m. EST

Laverone differs from Lifton in his response over what he would do in the event of a disagreement with the president...comments "I wouldn't go rogue."  'Advocacy' tally: 4

7:27 p.m. EST

Laverone is acting suspiciously like Stephen Colbert

7:26 p.m. EST

Sarah Scire looks completely pissed off

7:25 p.m. EST

Audience is shocked...awkward laughter

7:24 p.m. EST

Sarah Scire slams Goodland with tough questions..."Are you really going to show up in President Knapp's office dressed like this? (referring to sunglasses)...Goodland's response: It's bright in here and my eyes are already slanted...

7:23 p.m. EST

Goodland continues to infect his colleagues with illness...says the SA is far too serious in the way they go about things

7:21 p.m. EST

Bill Flanigen asks Goodland about his seriousness and cites a Hatchet article, accompanied by a photo (technical difficulties & awkward laughter)...Says that the panel didn't even know if Goodland was going to participate in the debate...is this the way he's going to act if elected? Response: Yes. WOW

7:19 p.m. EST

Lifton uses the term "piggyback" lol...He thinks the Senate needs to play a more narrowly tailored role...

7:18 p.m. EST

Sarah Scire comes out with a bang...Do all of you think Kyle Boyer did a good job as EVP this past year? Arthur Goodland says "I would do things differently" and that "I'm a completely different type of person"...Scire implores Goodland to give specifics...Is he sober at this moment? Laverone says that he's keep the Constitution, at the very least...he notes that Boyer did a "good" job...Goodland continues w/ a coughing fit!

7:17 p.m. EST

Andrew Springer asks Lifton if the botched Unity Ball represents an "overstepping of boundaries."

7:16 p.m. EST

Lifton is asked about his scathing critique of the SA being more of a programming body and less of an advocacy group...First 'advocacy' use of the night...Lifton recites his accomplishments and community service initiatives of past

7:15 p.m. EST

Laverone echoes Goodland's nonsensical response (albeit more eloquently)

7:14 p.m. EST

Question 1) What relationship do you hope to have w/ the president? Goodland gives an answer that...really isn't an answer. In all seriousness, why is he running? Is this a comedy act?

7:13 p.m. EST

EVP candidates introduced...Lifton waves, Laverone salutes (bizarrely) and Roper pronounces Laverone's first name as if he were the King of France "Louis XVI"...

7:12 p.m. EST

Who is Andrew Springer?

7:11 p.m. EST

The panel is introduced...Bill Flanigen of the GW Patriot receives a rousing round of applause...Sarah Scire receives a weak golf clap...

7:10 p.m. EST

Roper's intro is far less stiff than Tim Little's cryptic "riot act"

7:08 p.m. EST

GW Hatchet Editor-in-Chief Eric Roper addresses the overflow crowd...sans prepared comments...his sleeves are also rolled up, as if Carl Bernstein...

7:07 p.m. EST

VP for Academic Affairs Tim Little welcomes audience members and reminds us of our civic duty to engage in the political process! How philosophically SA ...

7:06 p.m. EST

President Vishal Aswani is MIA...apparently he has more important matters to attend to...

7:05 p.m. EST

The panelists have taken the stage! We're about to get underway...

7:04 p.m. EST

Arthur Goodland has donned silver aviator sunglasses...obviously, he's taking the event seriously...lol

7:04 p.m. EST

Michael Komo also on-site....

Also, no sign of the BSU delegation at this point (to disturb the proceedings)

7:01 p.m. EST

CR President Brand Kroeger paces the isles as if he's still relevant...jk

6:59 p.m. EST

Shoot us an IM at RGWRADIO!

6:56 p.m. EST

Good evening from the Jack Morton Auditorium at GW's School of Media and Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.! Jared Pliner here alongside News Director Mallory Thompson, WRGW News. We are reporting live from the 2009 SA-Hatchet Debate featuring SA presidential candidates Julie Bindelglass, Kyle Boyer, George Brunner, Justin Hollimon, Sammy Lopez, Jordan Phillips, & Nick Polk and EVP candidates: Arthur Goodland, Louis Laverone, & Jason Lifton.

Minutes before kickoff! LET THE BLOGGING BEGIN!

JP & MT