COLUMN: Presidential debates are a waste of time, intellect
Let’s face the facts. Even the temptation of free food won’t get USU students to give a hoot about this year’s elections for Executive Council.
That was obvious as the scent of fresh bread tantalized the nostrils of only about 20 students in The Hub during the presidential debate on Wednesday.
There can only be two explanations for such a lack of student support for the elected officials at our university: The bread they were serving was actually a month old and growing mold on it, or the debate itself and its candidates lacked the professionalism expected at such an institution of higher learning.
I highly doubt anyone is going to take someone seriously who is wearing a kilt and lobbying for quilted toilet paper in the bathrooms on campus. Honestly, even campaigns for high school elections are more professional than that pathetic display that the few students who were there had to witness.
Granted, some of the candidates presented themselves as the future president of Utah State University should, but I still debate whether a debate was held at all.
It was more like a dating panel with a some extra comments about what the candidates plan to do if they are elected. No one really cares who their favorite celebrity is or even why they love Utah State.
I would rather have heard why I these candidates think they can make a significant difference at USU and how they are going to do it.
You have to give them a hand though, many of the questions that were asked were enough to distinguish who is serious about running, who hopes he might win but doesn’t think he will and who thinks it’s all a little joke.
Hopefully students will take the time and vote for the best man for the job. All I know is I hope that guy in the kilt doesn’t win, no matter how nice quilted toilet paper would be in the bathrooms.
Marie MacKay is the assistant news editor. Comments can be sent to mmackay@cc.usu.edu.