Described by one audience member as an “emotional rollercoaster,” the Burnaby debates saw tensions reach an all-time high as executive candidates battled it out for the student vote.
With topics ranging from timesheets to accountability to Madonna, the candidates debated for almost six hours in the West Mall Atrium yesterday in front of a crowd that reached over 100 spectators by the presidential debates.
After a relatively cordial debate between the VP University Relations candidates, the VP Student Life candidates took the stage. Almost immediately, candidate Deepak Sharma asked his opponent, Hassan Liaquat, why he thought he was the best candidate considering his perceived lack of knowledge. Liaquat responded, “I’ve done my research, I know how to represent students.”
Sharma’s comments elicited a response from the audience, too, when one student asked him to what he attributed his arrogance, and why he was criticizing Liaquat rather than talking about his own work.
As they had done all week, the VP External Relations candidates remained respectful and friendly as they debated issues to do with transit, government lobbying, and communication. Candidate Arjan Mundy reiterated that he has the utmost respect for his fellow candidates: “There is no wrong choice here.”
Candidates debated topics ranging from timesheets to accountability to Madonna.
In his closing statement, candidate Karan Thukral removed his hoodie to reveal that he was wearing a shirt signed by SFU students who had concerns about the society — a statement the audience greeted with applause.
Issues related to communication were discussed during the VP Student Services debate. Both candidates, Shery Alam and Darwin Binesh, raised their concerns that the SFSS does not effectively communicate with the membership. Binesh stated, “It’s 2015 and we push paper. A lot of paper. It’s absurd!”
The mood was lightened when Presidential candidate Erik Hadekaer took the mic to ask the candidates how they would support his Taco Tuesday platform should they be elected, stirring a wave of #tacotalk comments on social media.
Karan Thakur and Barbara Szymczyk were up next for the VP Finance candidate debate. Both explained how they planned to make “money talk” easy for non-business students. Szymczyk said she would like to use the multimedia platform SFSS Shorts to communicate SFSS financial info, while Thakur stated that he would rather meet with students directly.
By the time the five presidential candidates took their seats at the debate table, the Atrium was full of students, with lines of students with questions for the candidates forming down the aisles. The debate began in a professional tone, with candidates discussing the importance of student advocacy, governance reform, and teamwork, but quickly turned personal.
Hadekaer asked candidate Zied Masmoudi about his timesheets from his past term as the VP Student Services, stating that he had spent almost 800 hours on the concert events alone. Masmoudi responded that he had spent a lot of time on the events, but consistently did work beyond what he recorded. “My timesheets do not reflect most of the work I do,” he stated.
One of the highlights came when a young girl who identified herself as a “future SFU student” asked the candidates what legacy they planned to leave behind for her. Candidate Johnny Aether replied that he wanted to take the society back to its “radical roots” and increase its advocacy efforts.
The mood in the room shifted when current SFSS Business Representative Shadnam Khan accused candidate Kayode Fatoba, who is also the current VP Student Life, of billing for meetings he had missed. Khan then tweeted out pictures of Fatoba’s timesheets and the meeting minutes, which showed that he had been absent.
Fatoba replied that he receives a volunteer stipend for extensive volunteer work, and may not always record it diligently.
Another member then accused Fatoba of promoting his professional startup through the SFSS website, citing the SFU’s Got Talent splashpage as an example of where Fatoba had linked to his own site. Fatoba responded that he did so because his company had assisted with the event.
Two more students — SASS president, Dion Chong, and Chief Electoral Officer, Oscar Sanchez — then asked Fatoba what the staff could expect from him as president, given his “history of disrespecting staff” and his election infraction, which as of the Burnaby debate totalled $190.
Fatoba responded that he had always put the interests of students first, and that this might have led him to disregard rules.
The emotions continued when Aether discussed his personal struggles as an SFU student, which had left him feeling isolated early into his university career. He received two rounds of applause from the audience.
Fatoba was also visibly upset: “I’m not here because I want to. I’m here because other people believed in me.”
At this point, Hadekaer interrupted with some timely levity: “My bum’s getting sore.” Candidate Enoch Weng proceeded to ask everyone to stand up and lead the candidates and audience members in a quick stretch.
Closing statements shortly followed, with the debate closing at approximately 6:15 p.m. Executive candidates will have a final opportunity to answer questions from SFU students on Friday at 1 p.m. during The Peak’s Twitter Townhall.
