Incentives offered for Student Senate Debate
Students, groups can enter for raffle prizes by attending event
Participants hope that a raffle and prizes will help bring non-Student Senate members to The Kansan's debate.
By Caleb Sommerville (Contact)
Thursday, March 13th, 2008
The University Daily Kansan is playing host to a live Student Senate Debate on March 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. The debate will be broadcast on KHJK-FM, KUJH-TV, and streamed on Kansan.com. In addition to being able to ask candidates questions, there will be incentives for students to attend.
Have a question you want to ask Student Senate coalition candidates? Get your voice heard.
If students are in one of four categories, on-campus housing, Greek housing, Student Involvement and Leadership Center registered groups or non-revenue sports, they are eligible to win a $100 check for their group. For every 10 percent of a particular group that shows up, the group will get one ticket in the raffle. A random ticket will be drawn for each category and the group with the winning ticket receives a $100 check.
There will also be a $50 gift card to KU Bookstores available for an individual student raffle. Student Senators and coalition members are not eligible for the raffle.
Darla Slipke, Bristol Conn., senior and Kansan editor-in-chief, said she hoped the incentives go over well.
“We’re hoping it will draw in non-Student Senate members,” Slipke said.
Adam McGonigle, Wichita sophomore and United Students presidential candidate, said he thought the incentives were a good idea to attract students who might not normally come.
“Hopefully a gift will help get them there,” McGonigle said.
Adam Wood, Lawrence junior and Students of Liberty presidential candidate, said he thinks the debate will have a limited effect, but it’s a step in the right direction.
“I think they can do a little better,” said Wood. He said the incentives might go over better if the raffle tickets were done on an individual basis.
Austin Kelly, Lawrence junior and Connect presidential candidate, said there was a possibility of filling up the debate this year.
In the past, “the debates haven’t been meaningful at all,” Kelly said.
The incentives should help get other people to go who haven’t already made up their minds to go, he said. He also said that one of Connect’s main goals was to get more students informed and involved, so he’s looking forward to the debate.
—Edited by Madeline Hyden
Discussion
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I like this. Hope ya'll keep pushing this. I don't know why the Kansan has taken a sudden (and really, it is pretty sudden) interest in Senate, but I hope that whomever is moderating this makes sure they know their stuff. I also hope that all the tech kinks are worked out so the thing can start on time, and get a full broadcast, and that any response rules will be established soon.
If this turns out properly... man. So hopeful.
I wonder if this might have something to do with certain people in the United Students leadership attempting to dictate to the Kansan editorial staff how to do their jobs. I suppose if you piss off enough people in the Kansan office you're going to attract their attention.
Just speculating.
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