The three Student Body presidential candidates Elena Falloon '11, Uthman Olagoke '11 and Eric Tanner '11 suggested differing solutions for addressing alcohol policy, sexual assault and the lack of minorities in Greek organizations at a debate hosted by the Interfraternity Council at Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on Wednesday.
All three candidates agreed that expanded dialogue is needed to address sexual assault on campus.
Falloon called for streamlining the process a student must go through if he or she is sexually assaulted. The current process is unclear and disorganized, she said. More students would engage in active dialogue about sexual assault if discussions were held in the neutral forum of General Assembly meetings, she said.
Olagoke said he thinks the Assembly's job should be to facilitate conversations with other campus organizations and to educate students about sexual assault.
Tanner emphasized that fraternities and sororities should all have a sense of responsibility for what goes on in their houses. He suggested the creation of a "Guests' Bill of Rights" that would detail what students can expect when they enter a Greek house.
Olagoke, who is unaffiliated, identified bridging the gap between minority students and the Greek system as his primary Greek-related goal.
"Greek houses need to collaborate with minority groups," he said. "As [Student Body] president, you have to have vision and you have to suggest ideas that will improve the system."
Falloon, a member of Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority, stressed the importance of "demystifying" the Greek system and ensuring that no students are afraid of getting involved in Greek life because of negative rumors about the culture.
Opening Greek houses during the day during orientation would help new students meet affiliated upperclassmen in an non-intimidating way, according to Tanner, who is social chair of Chi Gamma Epsilon fraternity.
The candidates expressed differing views regarding alcohol policy.
Tanner said the College's Social Event Management Procedures must be overhauled and that the Good Samaritan policy needs to be clarified for students, while Falloon said she hopes non-Greek student organizations will soon be able to host parties and serve alcohol to offer students alternatives to Greek parties.
The candidates also responded to questions about how Greek life fit into their own Dartmouth experiences.
Being a member of KDE has helped Falloon network and has given her new opportunities, she said.
"It's given me a space where I feel like I have a sense of ownership, where I feel most comfortable and that ownership has given me a sense of accountability," Falloon said.
Although Olagoke is not affiliated, he said he enjoys spending time at Greek houses and appreciates their presence as a social outlet.
The openness of the Greek scene is what makes it special, Tanner said.
"This is a place where everyone on campus is allowed to come, and it's free and open to the campus community, so it's a controlled place for you to get to know people," he said.
The debate, attended by about 20 students, had no speaking time limits or formal order of speaking, which allowed the candidates to interject during other candidates' responses.
Fraternity presidents in the IFC unanimously voted on Wednesday to endorse Tanner in his candidacy for president because of his "personal stake" in issues facing Greek organizations, IFC president Tyler Brace '11 said in an interview with The Dartmouth.
"I think the direction he wants to take [the Assembly] is pretty brave and bold, and he's proposing some changes that won't make everyone happy, but he's upfront about that, which is refreshing," Brace said.
Tanner is the only candidate who is a member of an IFC organization.
"I am honored to receive their endorsement and I am confident that my experience working with SEMP policy as well as my role as social chair of Chi Gamma Epsilon will allow me to forge a new bond between the IFC and Student Assembly," Tanner said in an e-mail statement to The Dartmouth.
This is the first year the Election Planning and Advisory Committee is permitting organizations to endorse individual candidates officially through EPAC.
"I thought it would be conducive to increasing debate and increasing participation in the election if organizations were given the opportunity to actively endorse candidates," EPAC chair David Imamura '10 said.
Brace and Panhellenic Council president Anna Sonstegard '11 moderated the debate, which was the last EPAC-sanctioned debate before the April 19 election.
The Afro-American Society will host the Student Assembly Diversity Debate at Cutter Shabazz Hall at 5 p.m on Friday.
Tanner is a staff photographer for The Dartmouth.
