Fiscal concerns and economic plans were subjects of much discussion at a debate forum in Seton Hill University’s (SHU) Reeves Memorial Library on October 20. The panel consisted of Republican and Democratic students and faculty.
One question posed by the moderator that resonated with the crowd of college students was what plans each candidate has to make college more affordable.
On the importance of giving funding to community programs to prep young people for college, Juistina Chiappelli, a junior and Democrat panelist, said: “If you give to the community, they will give back. Obama believes in instilling civic engagement that will carry them (students) to college.”
By Kayla Sawyer
News Editor
Fiscal concerns and economic plans were subjects of much discussion at a debate forum in Seton Hill University’s (SHU) Reeves Memorial Library on October 20. The panel consisted of Republican and Democratic students and faculty.
One question posed by the moderator that resonated with the crowd of college students was what plans each candidate has to make college more affordable.
On the importance of giving funding to community programs to prep young people for college, Juistina Chiappelli, a junior and Democrat panelist, said: “If you give to the community, they will give back. Obama believes in instilling civic engagement that will carry them (students) to college.”
Taxes were a topic of much discussion, with both sides claiming that their candidate would decrease taxes in their own way.
Republican panelists accused presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama of being in favor of unfairly taxing the wealthy. They also said it was necessary to lower the taxes on corporations in order to keep them in the country for American jobs.
“It’s not our job to help others achieve the American dream… by being held down while the others catch up,” said Joshua Sasmor, a professor of mathematics and advisor of the College Republicans.
Though taxes and inflation were heavily debated, one non-financial issue managed to stir up dialogue, and that was the appointment of Supreme Court judges.
“The foundation of this country is in the hands of nine people. They can find our laws to be unconstitutional or constitutional,” said Sasmor, speaking in favor of the Constitution’s original ideas as opposed to “European laws.” “I’m very worried that courts will find things constitutional that were not in our original documents… Things that are just aren’t always legal, and things that are legal aren’t always just.”
Those speaking in favor of Obama believed that the Constitution should evolve as the country grows and changes its ideals. They added that ideas such as segregation laws for African-Americans were part of the “original Constitution.”
“Barack Obama understands that these are changing times,” said Matt Corridoni, a freshman panelist.
Republicans brought up presidential nominee Senator John McCain’s plan to stop new government spending for one year. Lloyd Gibson, a campaign volunteer for Obama and director of SHU’s Master of Business Administration Program, argued that the government is more efficient than private sectors because they do not take a cut, which keeps the cost down.
“The idea that Democrats want large and unyielding government is wrong. Obama wants efficient government,” said Gibson.
When asked whose candidate would be best to handle our financial issues, the Democrats said that Obama was “just more intelligent” and “had better people,” while the Republican panelist brought up McCain’s experience and that he has been endorsed by economists.
Christopher Diaz, an associate professor of computer science, said, “It all comes down to this: a couple of decades of experience versus a year and half.”