The Hustler, Vanderbilt Political Review, Multicultural Leadership Council and Vanderbilt Student Government co-hosted a town hall in Stevenson March 18 between three tickets for the upcoming VSG presidential election: junior Stella Rodriguez representing herself and her running mate junior Miguel Kamgaing Kamgaing, juniors William Song and Manushree Navaneethakrishnan and sophomores Simran Fitzpatrick and Will Dean. Navaneethakrishnan also currently serves as The Hustler’s opinion editor.
Hustler editor-in-chief Jacob Stoeber, VPR president Adam Hosein and MLC president Ava Aria moderated the event. Each ticket was asked seven questions from the moderators and given two minutes to respond. Afterward, the moderators asked three questions from members of the audience, and tickets were given two minutes each to respond to the first two questions and one minute each to respond to the final question.
The debate began with each ticket being asked to explain their campaign platform, followed by their experience on VSG. Song was the first to speak, explaining his campaign slogan of being streamlined, simple and nimble, which is also mentioned on his platform description from VSG’s non-partisan candidate database.
“Students should know what VSG is doing, why it matters and how to get involved,” Song’s platform statement reads. “We will communicate initiatives more clearly and consistently so resources, funding, advocacy efforts and campus events are accessible to everyone.”
Song and Navaneethakrishnan have each served on VSG for three years. Song currently serves as Speaker of the Senate, previously serving as Deputy Speaker of the Senate and as a senator. Navaneethakrishnan currently serves as a co-chair for the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Committee, previously serving as a committee member for RSVP and a senator.
Fitzpatrick followed Song by stating her platform’s four points: bridging the gap between students and administration, investing in the student experience, free speech and advocacy and service. Fitzpatrick has served on VSG for two years, currently serving as programming co-chair in the cabinet. Dean is in his first year of service at VSG, serving as co-director of service management.
“We essentially want [the student] government to serve as a really close liaison between the student body and the administration,” Fitzpatrick said. “In order to achieve that, we want to continue bi-weekly dialogue dinners where students can come and speak to administration, voice concerns and if see if there’s anything that administration can do.”
Rodriguez rounded out the first question by stating her platform’s five main pillars: transparency and accountability, representation, community and campus life, campus safety and academic access and success.
“Our second [pillar] is representation. If you want to make sure every student feels very represented here at Vanderbilt, a few goals within this pillar include a [first-generation low-income student] kind of like mentorship program, similar to iLEAD or VUcept, and then also looking at some international student support as well,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez has served on VSG’s cabinet for three years, currently serving as co-director of service management with Dean. Kamgaing Kamgaing has served on VSG’s campus service committee for three years. Kamgaing Kamgaing was unable to attend the debate due to a class conflict.
The tickets were then asked their opinion on the recently proposed constitution, to which all three tickets expressed support. Issues such as the inability to fill senator seats and efficiency concerns were brought up and agreed upon the candidates. Rodriguez, whose branch would be dissolved in the proposal, said she sees value in delegating power to committee chairs.
“The cabinet is very flexible in the way that you work with the rest of VSG. When I was secretary, I did a lot of work with economic inclusivity, and so I almost felt like I was another committee chair there,” Rodriguez said. “So, by empowering those committee chairs, I think we will really make a difference there.”
Candidates were then asked about the role VSG should play responding to federal political actions that affect the university, along with Vanderbilt’s policy on institutional neutrality. Rodriguez, Dean and Song all emphasized VSG needing to echo student sentiment around such issues, each using VSG’s student survey regarding the federal compact as an example, while Navaneethakrishnan stressed the need for open dialogue among the campus community.
Fitzpatrick also highlighted VSG’s advocacy fund as an avenue to assist student organizations beyond the voice VSG provides. Currently, the advocacy fund allots $7500 each year for organizations advocating for marginalized communities on campus.
“[The advocacy fund] is for student organizations who have any sort of view or political movement that they want to support. And if [those views] aren’t supported properly by VSG, then we can provide funding so that they can support themselves,” Fitzpatrick said.
The discussion proceeded with a question regarding how each ticket would ensure that underrepresented students are meaningfully represented in campus life. Rodriguez touched on wanting to promote VSG outreach to organizations and support for international students, while Fitzpatrick followed by explaining her intent to integrate clubs for cross exchange. Navaneethakrishnan replied with an emphasis on pushing for more student involvement in extracurriculars for a greater sense of belonging.
“But I think it’s so important that we really expand belonging and see this idea that, yes, you can start a club that you want to see here, you can do that, but I think the extracurriculars, we have to really stress that,” Navaneethakrishnan said. “And it’s no joke, I’m super involved, but there’s a reason why, because that is why I’m proud of myself as a Vanderbilt student.”
The candidates concluded by answering questions from the crowd. Answering a question about sustainability, Dean mentioned his support for the GetConnected App and campus-wide river cleanups, with Rodriguez echoing this sentiment and also mentioning her desire to open 24-hour munchie marts to eliminate food deserts. Song shared that his ticket aims to host discussion-based activities to promote environmental awareness.
“I think it would be great to reach out and find members of the Bird Club, for example, or WilSkills or the Environmental Education Club that are on campus, so that we can get people who are already really active and engaged and have this network of resources that can join VSG and help make their voices heard as well,” Dean said. “I also think promoting awareness about the GetConnected platform, which will allow students to connect directly to departments in Nashville that might be working on river cleanups or other environmental issues will be really beneficial on that front, and it’s something we need to hear about.”
All three tickets responded to a question on queer student safety and belonging by emphasizing their desire to increase VSG’s collaboration with LGBTQ+ organizations, with Rodriguez mentioning Lambda and Dean and Fitzpatrick mentioning the KC Potter Center.
Each ticket had one final minute to say their closing remarks and respond to the last question from the audience regarding what makes their campaigns stand out. Rodriguez detailed her unique knowledge of VSG she has gained from her experience serving past administrations, Fitzpatrick discussed their ticket’s focus on continuing to spend VSG money on serving the community and Song detailed how their platform focuses on noticeable goals that can be implemented during their term.
“What we’re trying to do is expand these programs, and these are relatively low cost, visible, immediate and executable within this term,” Song said. “And so, with our combined experience, our relationships with administrators, unique relationships that I’ve been able to cultivate as a member of the executive board for VSG, we have the connections, the knowledge and the passion to make these things possible.”
Current VSG president, Soham Saraf, closed the event with a note on remaining respectful towards the candidates on social media platforms. Saraf also announced voting opens 8 A.M. Monday, March 23, and closes 8 P.M. Tuesday, March 24.
