Winner of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence award
Spring Issue 6
March , 2015
SGA 2015 ELECTIONS
SGA debate candidates focus on student apathy, image Rebekah Duntz Editor-in-Chief
Current senator Rekisha Pootoon said that even if she isn’t elected Vice President, she’ll still run for senator and contribute ideas to the Student Government Association. “It’s not about who wins,” Pootoon said. “It’s about taking care of the students.” The 2015 Student Government Election Debates turned into a discussion about key issues
they thought the student body was facing, rather than a debate. Candidates stood before over 100 people during the SGA debates on March 25 and spoke about why they deserved to be elected into student government. The topics discussed were about campus sustainability, organization, trolley route improvements and student apathy among the campus. “I want to make sure students feel empowered and enjoy their experiences here at Florida
Tech,” said Justin Blackman, a presidential candidate and graduate student in operations research. The debates lasted an hour during the general meeting time in Skurla Hall, room 110. One student from each organization is required to attend in order to be recognized as an organization and receive funding. Candidates were running for senator, treasurer, vice president and president positions. Over 30 students applied for senator posi-
SG
A
El
ec
tio nI ssu e
The Florida Tech Crimson tions, five for treasurer, nine for vice president and four for president positions. Of the four presidential candidates, three were present: junior in software engineering Ikechukwu Asomugha, junior in biomedical engineering Jessica Cushman, and Blackman. Blackman suggested that having more speakers, events and talks at Florida Tech will get students more excited about campus life, and prepared to enter the “work world.” Cushman said she would like to build on the work she and her senate have already started, such as the upcoming trolley GPS app, international events and service organizations. “I’ve been taking 18 credits a semester so that I’ll only have to take 12 credits my senior year. And I will! I’m almost there,” Cushman said among cheers. “That way, I’ll be able to dedicate time to SGA.” Of the nine candidates running for Vice President, three were present for the debate: junior environmental science major Shelby Stansell, junior forensic psychology major Clara Loose, and and Pootoon, who’s a junior in chemical engineering. One of Stansell’s main goals is “being more of a campus com-
munity, not just a campus,” she said. All the vice presidential candidates agreed that campus unity and involvement should be a priority for Student Government in the upcoming year. In terms of possible parking solutions, Stansell suggested there was plenty of parking near Roberts Hall, while Loose encouraged carpooling among students and adding additional parking sports. Pootoon suggested a more centralized location for parking. Of the five students that applied to be Treasurer, one student was present at the SGA debates: Jonathan Cirillo. Cirillo, a current senator and a sophomore in pre-medical biology, currently holds a position on the Student Activities Funding Committee and helps report funding results during the general meetings. “Behind each funding request is an organization, not just paperwork,” Cirillo said. His mission, if elected Treasurer, is to improve communication between SAFC and organizations requesting funding. Cirillo said there should be a clear and mutual understanding should a funding request be denied. Voting opens on March 30 and closes April 3 at 5 p.m. v
Local businessman claims President Catanese interested in Harbour City ballpark proposal Tyler Richardson Business Manager “I had a telephone conference call this afternoon, 2 o’clock, with the president of F.I.T,” said Mark LaRusso to the Melbourne City Council. “And his comments to me were, ‘Mark please tell the council when you go there this evening that I would be very interested in a dual-purpose stadium that would include both football and baseball.’” On March 24, LaRusso
stood in front of the Melbourne City Council and proposed that discussions begin about the feasibility of constructing a minor league baseball stadium in downtown Melbourne between New Haven Avenue and Promenade Park. The proposal is in its infancy, but if the project gets approval, the 4,000 seat “Harbor City Ballpark” would become the new home of the Brevard County Manatees. It would also be a catalyst for significant economic gains to the surrounding area, LaRusso said. “ We ’ r e t a l k i n g a b o u t $6,000,000 annual economic im-
pact based on similar projects,” he said. “That’s a conservative number.” The stadium would also draw approximately 150,000 people annually over a five to six month period according to LaRusso. The 7-member council was in favor of opening up a dialog to discuss the feasibility of the project. A motion to work with LaRusso and the other entities and then return to the council for a public hearing was passed 6 to 1. “It sounds excellent,” said Councilman Dan Porsi. “I can’t see a better way, other than what you’re doing, for those of us that
would love something else to do downtown other than go to bars.” Mayor Cathy Meehan, although impressed with the presentation, doesn’t feel as if the project is right for historic downtown Melbourne. She has concerns about the project not being in the city’s comprehensive plan and expressed a desire to see a hotel with mixed-use in the proposed location. Meehan also said that local businesses aren’t currently in favor of the proposal. Two businesses in particular, The Nomad Cafe and the Bloom House, would need to be
Election Guide inside
purchased and relocated in order to begin construction, according to LaRusso. “I didn’t think it was a good idea for downtown, even before I found out it would require the destruction of my business,” said Megan Gonzalez, owner-operator of The Nomad Café. “The demographic that it will draw to the area I don’t think matches at all what the progressive plan has been for downtown.
See “Ballpark,” page 4