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The Daily Tar Heel

DiPhi Forum Focuses on Platforms

The 30 students who were present learned about the platforms of all the candidates and listened to their various promises for improving the University.

In their three-minute opening statements, the candidates promised everything from representing the diverse issues of UNC's student body to making the student body president more accessible.

The candidates were then bombarded by questions from the audience. Students' questions ranged from student judicial system reform to what platform issue was most valued by each candidate.

All seven candidates in attendance agreed that reform of the student judicial system is an issue that the student body president should address.

Candidate Correy Campbell thought this year's problems with the Honor Court centered on a lack of communication about the Honor Code. "Students should know the consequences," he said. "The Honor Court should promote what you can and cannot do."

Candidate Dustyn Baker agreed that educating freshmen about the Honor Code is important to resolving the issue, while the other candidates thought the actual judicial system should be placed under review.

Candidate Justin Young narrowed the issue to three elements. "It boils down to review, reform, respect," he said.

Candidates Warren Watts and Annie Peirce support the Independent Defense Counsel, which solicits the help of professional attorneys in defending students.

Candidate Eric Johnson said one reform he would push for is the separation of the prosecution and defense representation within the Honor Court, which is one goal of the IDC.

Candidate Caleb Ritter also said the Honor Court needed change. "Small groups of students shouldn't be able to affect another student so drastically."

In response to the question about which program was most important to each candidate, Watts emphasized the importance of more parking.

Campbell also said he would attack parking -- but from a different angle. He said the ticketing issue was his major concern and that he plans to implement his automatic appeal plan, which would erase tickets for first offenses.

Johnson focused on safety issues. "If I could achieve one goal it would be if students feel unsafe, they could check out a 911 cell phone," he said.

Baker, Young and Peirce agreed that more representation and communication with students was the most important issue. Baker would institute her Fostering Open Communication while Uniting Students council, a committee that would provide checks and balances for student government. Peirce plans to add two new student representatives to her Cabinet.

Young plans to support students by redirecting the student body president's stipend to the student body.

Ritter said an online calendar, a feature that would post upcoming events and provide space for student input, is the most important issue on his platform.

Candidates Charlie Trakas, Matthew Wilhite and Larry Harper did not attend the forum.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.

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