Ball State’s Student Government Association’s (SGA) Elections Board held its Vice Presidential Debate in the Teachers College Feb. 10. 

This year's ticket is current SGA President Tina Nguyen re-running in her position and SGA President Pro Tempore Monet Lindstrand running as vice president. Lindstrand is the only vice presidential candidate.

Lindstrand spoke about two major platforms: sexual assualt prevention and improving Ball State’s public transportation. Nguyen and Lindstrand have three focuses: engage organizations, encourage social awareness and educate students on the diversity at Ball State.

“Being a part of campus leadership has allowed me the opportunity to grow as an individual and be able to tackle the problems that students might face or bring to us,” Lindstrand said. 

Lindstrand became involved with student government as a freshman. She began in the At-Large Caucus and, in the fall 2021 semester, she was the Honors College representative for the Collegiate Caucus. 

On the topic of sexual assault prevention, Lindstrand talked about establishing a program in the Village, along with local restaurants and bars, for angel shots.

“So an angel shot, for those of you who don’t know, is an order that you can go up to the bartender and ask for to help yourself get home safely,” Lindstrand said.

Linstrand said partnering with Ball State’s residence halls would be a crucial step to take to get the appropriate information released to the student body about what sexual consent means and the steps students should take so they can ensure their overall safety when in college. 

Lindstrand spoke about the minimum wage resolution that SGA passed last semester. The resolution was sent to the University Senate to be reviewed.

RELATED: Ball State SGA passes minimum wage resolution, now to be reviewed by University Senate

Lindstrand spoke about her platform for diversity, mentioning the current senate’s “diversity deep dive” which works with different cultural organizations.

“[We] really talk about what makes us different as humans, but what can also bring us together as a Ball State community,” Lindstrand said. 

Lindstrand said one way of gaining representation of minorities is to encourage diversity in SGA. 

Lindstrand’s two main issues with Ball State’s transportation were Charlie’s Charter and Ball State’s bus rotation. 

With Charlie’s Charter — a free university transportation service — Lindstrand said the hours of operation aren’t clear and her goal is to make those clearer. If she becomes SGA vice president, Lindstrand aims to improve the bus routes by potentially adding a second blue loop.

The audience asked about encouraging and ensuring different student representation, such as LGBTQ students.

“I think it’s a really great opportunity, moving from President Pro Tempore having that experience with the vice president currently, and kind of seeing that role over the past year and a half… I’ve been in the senate,” Lindstrand said.

SGA’s Presidential Debate is Feb. 15 in Pruis Hall from 7-8 p.m.

Contact Hannah Amos with comments at hannah.amos@bsu.edu or on Twitter @Hannah_Amos_394. Contact Jamie Strouts with comments at jdstrouts@bsu.edu. 

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