While people across the nation find themselves embroiled in political debate, Butler University locks itself out of the conversation.

The campus lacks frank political discussion.

Current policies block funding to overtly political student organizations on campus.

This moratorium on public debate harms student experience and scholarship.

Students on both ends of the political spectrum think a sweeping change to Butler’s political climate is essential.

“A lot of people come in here with the biases their parents gave them,” the College Democrats President Cole Collins said. “If they do think about their own political views, they don’t participate.”

One of the changes both political groups recommended is releasing previously blocked funds.

“I think the blocked funding to political student groups on campus harms the student body and its ability to discuss these issues,” the College Republicans Chairman Stephanie Hodgin said.

Without money from Student Government Association, these organizations have to seek funding from outside sources, such as Organizing for America and the College Republican National Committee.

This makes it far more difficult for these organizations to create events that involve students in political discussion.

Both Collins and Hodgin said they want to set up debates, host student forums and invite political candidates to campus.

But they lack solid funding to do so.

Butler’s  reluctance  about bringing these discussions to the forefront is understandable, especially if it’s to avoid the appearance of taking sides.

Yet encouraging political debate will ultimately benefit the campus.

If student political organizations had the money to explain their platforms, students would better analyze their own stances and better understand others’ stances.

If political debate and action happened on campus, students would become more involved in the community and unlearn the stereotypes they may have about the “other side.”

If Butler invited politicians and political activists to campus more often, more students might be willing to enter the political foray.

Another problem is that the administration does not allow SGA members to openly express their opinions in the public sphere.

SGA President Mike Keller said he notices the lack of honest political conversations and hopes to rework the policy.

“I think it would be an improvement to the campus to relax the policy a little bit since it’s a little broad,” Keller said.

Keller formed a new SGA position, the director of external affairs, in order to bring more candidates to school and involve students in the political process.

Butler administrators are currently considering reworking this policy with SGA.

But for now,  students are waiting to see some concrete changes.

“They should just fund College Democrats, College Republicans and Student for Liberty equally,” Collins said. “Even $100 would help each group set up events.”

In elections today, the politicians running want to create distance from Washington and convince the electorate they are the ‘outsider’ that will change government.

But when it comes to our Student Government Association elections, it is better for a candidate to have as much experience than the other candidates and be considered the ‘insider’ in the race.

The student body runs the risk of voting in someone unaware of what needs to be fixed inside SGA, while the person with little experience might also slow down any momentum with projects that were headed into the finals stages of completion during the previous administration.

The SGA presidential race is set for Feb. 27.  James Schubert, chairman of the Elections Oversight Committee, announced the SGA president candidates this past weekend.

Josh Grant, former co-chair of R.E.A.C.H. and former representative for College Republicans; Mike Keller, a member of the SGA Finance Board; Katie Palmer, chair of the Academic Affairs Committee in the Council on Presidential Affairs; and Kelsa Reynolds, SGA Vice President of Operations are the four candidates.

All four candidates are bringing distinct perspectives and experiences into the presidential race.

Reynolds provides an analysis of SGA through her time serving on the executive committee while Palmer and Keller currently each serve on branches of SGA.

Grant, though not holding a position currently, offers opinions from the time served in R.E.A.C.H.

Students on campus should elect someone who has more experience than the other contenders.  It is very important, especially when dealing with projects that take time to organize and implement by the SGA executive committee that the student body votes for someone that understands and knows what is going on.

Former president Christopher Ring said, “I believe SGA board experience is most important going into being SGA President.

“I think you have a better understanding of the organization’s infrastructure, the way in which money is handled, and the time required of the position.”

The president and the vice presidents have maybe six months to implement their ideas on campus. Ring makes a great point referencing the large budget SGA is responsible for. And, we would not want to see large portions of the SGA budget spent on a decision that was quickly made without sufficient experience and prior knowledge.

But I know there are others who do not share my outlook. Students want to see SGA go in a completely different direction, and would enjoy supporting a candidate that aligns with those views.

There is nothing wrong with a student that has never been to SGA assembly or served on a committee to quickly learn the procedures and then outline his or her vision for the next year.

While Kyle Inskeep, former vice president of R.E.A.C.H., said it is important for candidates to have prior experience, he said, “I think it is very possible that someone with little or no experience in SGA could do a great job as SGA President, but they would need to surround themselves with a great executive team and be prepared to overcome various obstacles and challenges that they could not have foreseen.”

I ultimately believe that it is better for SGA to have a president that knows what is going on and can continue the dialogue with administrators and faculty rather than having to start anew.

Kasper is the former chair of the Council on Presidential Affairs.

Photo courtesy of Butler College Democrats

With mayoral elections just around the corner, two of Butler University’s political organizations—College Republicans and  Butler College Democrats—are working to educate students and the surrounding community about the importance of involvement in local elections.

On Nov. 8, Indianapolis residents decide whether incumbent Republican Greg Ballard or Democrat Melina Kennedy will be mayor of the city, and some Butler students are encouraging the rest of campus to participate in the election however they can.

“We have a problem of apathy on campus with students not recognizing what the impacts of local elections are on their lives,” senior Angela Miller, president of College Democrats, said. “We tend to be trapped within the Butler Bubble.”

Miller has been part of the organization since her freshman year and through her experience said she has seen how what happens locally in Indianapolis affects Butler students more than most of them realize.

Senior Chase Smith, chairman of College Republicans, said he believes there are many benefits to paying attention to local elections.

“Whether you call Indiana your home, or you are just here because you are a part of the Butler community, you are part of this state,” Smith said. “Caring about local elections, be it through volunteering for a campaign or helping in some other way, is one way to give back to this state.”

Election day is quickly approaching and in order to spread the word of the upcoming polls, members of College Republicans and College Democrats have spent time assisting the candidates’ campaigns.

Paige Newman, political director for College Democrats, said she has been involved in several events.  Some activities include helping set up voter registration, promoting the debate that took place in Clowes  Memorial Hall and attending a roundtable discussion with Kennedy.

“Kennedy took an hour out of her day to meet about 25 to 30 college students at a local high school to discuss issues in the area and how to make people aware of them,” Newman said.

Smith said College Republicans help out with the candidates whenever they can.  Members have been volunteering in a series of events called “Operation Red November” that focus on reaching out to both large and small communities.

“With the number of College Republican chapters around the state, we can usually assemble a respectable number of people to do anything from making calls on behalf of candidates to walking door to door,” Smith said.

Butler students are eligible to vote if they are registered at their school address, although voter registration has already closed for the mayoral elections. Hinkle Fieldhouse will house a polling station for all Butler students who are registered to vote along with other residents of the city.