USG debates student-athlete issues

By NIKKI VELISARIS
and TRACY WILSON
Collegian Staff Writers

Student-athlete related issues were addressed at last night's Undergraduate Student Government presidential and vice-presidential election panel discussion.

As elections approach, Art Spicciati, presidential candidate, discussed the need to get student-athletes more involved as leaders.

"That segment (of the student body) is underrepresented in our student government," he said.

Because student-athletes have full schedules, Beth Silvia, presidential candidate, said USG must reach out to them.

"We need to go to these athletes because it takes a lot to be a great athlete and student," she said.

The hundreds of student-athletes on campus can benefit student government and academics at the university just as they have brought fame to Penn State, said Vivek Narayanan, presidential candidate.

"I even have family in India who have heard of the Penn State football team," he said.

Marc Morgan, vice presidential write-in candidate running with Rick Morgan, said his experience as a walk-on member of the football team will encourage student- athletes to address their issues with him. They are running under the aliases of Fidel Chewboxa, a cigar, Mary Jane Liquor, a brownie, respectively.

"I know all the effort that goes into being a student-athlete," Marc Morgan said.

Garrett Fitzgerald, vice-presidential candidate and runningmate of Desha Girod, took issue with professors who discourage student-athletes from taking their courses due to the consequences related to missing classes.

"Student-athletes should not be penalized for missing classes to represent Penn State," he said.

Although student-athletes have grueling schedules, they should be held accountable for their grades, said Ryan Knauss, vice-presidential candidate and Dougie Bennett's running mate.

"We're here to get an education," he said. "That's what this school is all about."

USG varied its traditional debate format by inviting a panel of student leaders to the discussion to give them the opportunity to ask candidates questions about issues important to their constituents.

Tiffany Gorman (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management), student adviser for the Student-Athlete Advisory Board, had requested the candidates discuss the issue of student-athlete involvement.

"Student-athletes have made a tremendous effort to give back to the university and community and want to get more involved next year," she said.

The candidates will be at the Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave., from 3 to 5 p.m. tomorrow for "SBS Meet the Candidates."

• USG candidates lower food prices