USG holds candidate debate


Thursday, March 19, 1998	USG holds candidate debate By DARYL LANG Collegian Staff Writer Improving University education and supporting student organizations were frequently addressed topics last night as Undergraduate Student Government presidential and vice presidential candidates met in 110 Wartik Lab for their first debate.
	Meanwhile, a student in a gorilla costume silently watched the debate from the seventh row of the audience, marking the first official appearance of a write-in campaign promoting student radio station WKPS-FM (90.7). Seated on the stage, members of the six tickets on the ballot discussed their campaign platforms and answered written questions submitted by the audience and by other candidates.
Candidates for president and vice president of the Undergraduate Student Government confer during the first candidate debate yesterday. The candidates are (left to right): Andrea Prinzi and J. P. Jaworski; Rocco Impreveduto and Marc Nathan; Roshani Herath and Christine Muchi; Caroline Casagrande and Brian Olivo; Todd Krout and Karen Skomorucha; and Mario Ciabarra and Allison Szabaga. (Collegian Photo/Andrew A. Roach - click for full size image)	Caroline Casagrande (junior-international politics) and Brian Olivo (junior-advertising) said they want to make changes in USG to achieve the goals of their platform. "We aren't working to make USG better for USG," Casagrande said. "We want to make Penn State better for students." Mario Ciabarra (junior-science) and Allison Szabaga (sophomore-marketing) said they have already started working independently on one of their platforms, which is to create a World Wide Web site offering class notes and professor evaluations. "We will redefine what it is to be a candidate," said Ciabarra. "We will get this done, and you will see some of it before you even vote for us." Roshani Herath (senior-labor and industrial relations) and Christine Muchi (senior-labor and industrial relations) promoted the idea of holding a multicultural forum every three weeks for students to voice concerns. Muchi said they wanted to amplify the student voice and work toward tangible and realistic goals. Rocco Impreveduto (junior-telecommunications) and Marc Nathan (junior-finance) stressed the importance of lobbying for more University funding and better representation of student organizations. USG needs to promote the positive sides of groups such as Greek organizations involved in charities, Nathan said. Todd Krout (junior-international business management) and Karen Skomorucha (sophomore-international politics) said they want to examine and restructure the way money from the student activity fee is spent. "Student voices have become less and less important to the (University) administration," Krout added. Andrea Prinzi (junior-political science and administration of justice) said she and J. P. Jaworski (junior-life sciences) want to involve more students in USG, including those who are not already active in other organizations. "We aren't trying to make USG the be-all and end-all," Prinzi said. "We just want it to be a resource." The newly announced seventh ticket includes a gorilla costume with blinking, red eyes identified only as Kornelius P. Spankum -- a name based on the radio station's initials -- and running mate Kendra Ciesla (junior-advertising) as write-in candidates. "We're just trying to get attention out about the station," said Ciesla, who ran for vice president last year.