Point: Time to get REAL

Both parties running for UISG this year have compelling platforms that address important issues, to be sure. Yet, it is the REAL Party that comes out on top when addressing the “real” needs and wants, so to speak, of all students across campus.

Among other things, the REAL Party platform focuses not only on the lives of students during their time at Iowa, it also addresses the needs of students as they prepare to leave college.

For example, the proposition to maintain possession of Hawk email accounts after graduation could be crucial in future career endeavors. Not only do students benefit from maintaining their network, but so, too, does the university. After all, if the university is trying to promote the excellence of its graduates, what better way than to attach the school’s name to every promising graduate?

Furthermore, ideas such as free online transcripts, changes to policing practices downtown, and credit for volunteering all promise greater future success for UI students.

There has been some doubt surrounding the REAL Party’s dedication to sexual-assault prevention, despite the platform touching on ideas for prevention in its “Safety” section.

It is true that there is no arguing the strength of the BEACH Party’s stance on sexual assault and mental illness nor is it possible to debate the paramount importance of these two topics. Yet beyond these two critical issues, the BEACH Party falls short in creative solutions and initiatives to address the other concerns and desires of students.

Take the attention of each party to the needs of student organizations, for example. BEACH’s plans for student organizations appear to be limited to opening funding for new student organizations and adding multicultural events (both ideas that REAL has to some degree, as well).

REAL, on the other hand, has several ideas for improving student organizations, including, but not limited to, streamlining the room-reserving process, increasing travel and funding capabilities of organizations, allowing organizations to provide their own food, and — most importantly — taking pay cuts to send as much money as possible to the student body.

With more than 500 recognized student organizations on campus, many of which can be as important to future success as school itself, it is clear that the REAL Party understands all of the issues facing students.

While I believe that the REAL Party presents a more complete platform to address student wants and needs in all areas, I implore all students simply to vote for UISG today or Thursday, regardless of which party you choose.

Joe Lane

Counterpoint: The best party is a BEACH Party

Today, UI undergraduates have the chance to elect the next organization of leaders that will influence their future as students in Iowa City. After doing the research, my vote will go to the BEACH Party and here is why yours should, too.

The BEACH Party, named after the idea to “… Better, Educate, Advocate, and push for change in our Home” is vesting an increased interest in the student body as a whole, and the members are doing so in a very modern way. With further support for initiatives like the “What to Fix” program, the BEACH Party would enhance communication between the student body and its government. By using platforms such as Twitter and techniques such as “mass email correspondence[s]” to find out what students want fixed on campus, they are offering an easy and productive way to get informed on and tackle a wide range of issues.

The services wouldn’t stop there, either. Another student-oriented service that they lay out in their platform is the “Cut Your Cost Campaign”, a program that would help students “… learn about the cost-efficient resources available to them at the University of Iowa.” These are just a few of the many issues they tackle in regards to “Student Life,” and, speaking of Student Life …

The BEACH Party seems fully aware of the stress that accompanies the typical college student. Often, students are juggling myriad amounts of stress-inducing entities from work to studying to worrying about how they are going to get somewhere without a car or a bus to take them there. Well, should the BEACH Party get elected, some of these things may be easier to deal with because it plans on combining information and an easy access to resources to promote both your physical and mental well-being. While a lot of the BEACH Party’s ideas promote the well-being of students on an individual level, it also make sure to include provisions that go beyond the individual and reach the entirety of the UI community, and, indeed, even the world.

Many of these globally efficient ideas come through the party’s proposed advancements on sustainability at the UI. From recycling bins designed by art majors to “Bike-Share” stations that would allow the cheap rental of bikes available to students, the BEACH Party is trying to actively fight against prevalent environmental problems while simultaneously cleaning up the City.

While all these elements are reasons to vote BEACH today and Thursday, keep in mind that space concerns never even allowed me to talk about such things as its Iowa Kick-starter program, international-shuttle bus, and inclusive Nite Ride proposal — all things that are laid out in great detail on its website, www.uiowabeachparty.com.

Chris Clegg

EDITOR’S NOTE

Due to the number of Daily Iowan staffers running for a particular party or supporting one, the DI has chosen not to endorse either party in this year’s election.