College Republicans, Dems Square Off
Kala Kachmar
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
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The debate, hosted by the Multiracial Greek Council, consisted of eight questions reflecting current political issues facing presidential candidates. Both the College Democrats and Republicans were allowed up to three panel members to debate per question, and the president of each group remained on the panel for each question.
"I wanted to give people the chance to get educated on topics," said Ellen Pereira, a 5th-semester nursing major on the Multiracial Greek Council, moderator of the debate and organizer of the event. "It's important for students to get involved, especially with the election coming up."
Among the most heated debate topics was the Iraq War.
Dave Steuber, an 8th-semester economics, political science and philosophy triple major and president of the UConn College Democrats, argued there has been little political progress made in Iraq and the reasons for going there were unjustified.
"The commitment we have made is to a have a presence with no end in sight," he said. "It's time for us to talk about how we're going to draw down our troop levels and get out of the country."
The United States should set out some sort of a timetable or plan so the Iraqi government can start to take on some of the responsibility we are currently bearing, said Marshall Rivers, an 8th-semester political science and geography double major and vice president of the UConn College Democrats.
The issue of the troop surge also came up in discussion.
Joe Socolosky, an 8th-semester political science major, provided data that supported the idea that the recent American troop surges in Iraq were successful and said that progress is undeniable.
The military has met 13 out of 18 benchmarks during the course of the war, which is a big deal, said Rob Casapulla, an 8th-semester political science major and president of the UConn College Republicans. He also noted that many people irresponsibly think that it's not an accomplishment.
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