SVSU groups debate issues

OPP and SVSU College Republicans meet to debate several national issues

February 25, 2008 —

If last Tuesday proved anything to the SVSU community it proved that national political issues matter in even a small corner of the country, such as SVSU's campus.

Members of SVSU's College Republicans and the Organization for Progressive Politics, an SVSU group, met to debate national issues such as immigration, health care, and the environment.

Moderated by Michael Horace from Central Michigan University's Public Radio, the debate was preceded by opening remarks from John Kaczynski, head of SVSU's Center for Public Policy and Service, the group that sponsored the debate. Following Kaczynski's remarks were opening speeches by the SVSU College Republican President Philip Kraft and OPP President Becky Bailey.

Each topic of debate had one member from each student group represent their organization.

The first topic on the agenda was immigration. OPP member James Gault, a self-described "non-traditional" student and an English and professional and technical writing junior opened with a statement regarding the OPP's stance on immigration.

"A policy has to be ethical," Gault said. "It has to be based in human rights."

Bridget Sobek, a member of the College Republicans and a political science and French sophomore, responded to Gault by agreeing that immigration is indeed a staple to the American tradition, but that illegal immigrants are a problem because they do not pay taxes into social programs of which they are recipients.

The meeting then shifted to the topic of health care. Speaking on behalf of the College Republicans, political science junior Matt Chisholm argued against a universal health care system.

"To address the health care issue on a national level would be unconstitutional," Chisholm said.

In retort, OPP member Holly Champagne, a political science senior, argued that the laissez-faire attitude many people have toward the health care system is why the United States health care system is ranked 37 internationally.

"We should be a leader," Champagne said.

Champagne also responded to criticism of presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's mandatory health care plan, saying that it is a bad policy because low income individuals should not be forced to pay into a "failed system."

The health care debate shifted to the topic of smoking, a topic recently gaining exposure around SVSU's campus due to the new smoking policy that states smokers can only smoke in certain parking lots. Chisolm said the old smoking policy, which stated that smokers weren't allowed to smoke within 25 feet of any entrance, was a better policy.

The smoking issue also centered on rules in privately owned establishments. Chishom argued that the smoking issue should not be decided by law but rather by the free market, citing examples of Saginaw area establishments that have banned smoking but still have a large customer base. Champagne, on the other hand, argued in favor of a keeping a smoking section in every establishment.

Last on the agenda was the environment. College Republican member Aaron Bayliss, a political science sophomore, argued that the environment was worth protecting, but that news outlets exaggerate the effects of global warming.

"The climate change issue is overblown," Bayliss said. "We shouldn't make everthing an issue with climate change."

Debating on behalf of the OPP, Kirsten Whitlock, a political science freshman, argued that climate change, if left unchecked, can only get worse. She claimed that there should be an increased effort to educate people on the effects of global warming and ways to combat it. She cited some ways that people could reduce their effect on global warming such as carpooling, using public transportation, and so on. She cited examples of global warming already in the works such as the melting of the ice caps and the increase in hurricanes on the American contintent.

Bayliss replied by down playing the effects of global warming.

"There will be severe weather," Bayliss said. "It's a fact of life."

The Center for Public Policy and Service will host other events for the month of March including open lunches with faculty members Julie Keil on March 14 and Erik Trump on March 28. Students interested in these events can contact John Kaczynski at jlkaczyn@svsu.edu.