News
By Dalia Mortada
|
February 12, 2008
Candidates running for Student Council offices met yesterday at a Hoos for Open Access forum to discuss what many candidates referred to as a need for a more socioeconomically diverse community at the University.
Candidates running for the Council positions of president, vice president for administration and vice president for organizations were present at the forum, answering questions first from the forum's moderators -- Hoos for Open Access executive board members Josh Mitchell and Kimberly Diaz -- and then from members of the audience.
When asked about the possible benefits of socioeconomic diversity at the University, second-year College student John Nelson, a VPA candidate, said University "students benefit from hearing other students' experiences from diverse situations and socioeconomic backgrounds."
VPO candidate Brent Via, a second-year College student, added that socioeconomic diversity "can open up students' minds to a world other than their own."
Isaac Wood, presidential candidate and third-year College student, concurred with his fellow Council candidates and added that he is also concerned about what happens to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds once they arrive at the University.
"Current programs do a great job getting students from lower-income backgrounds to the University," Wood said.