Panel debates pres. hopefuls

With the New Hampshire primary just days away, Penn students got their own exposure to Campaign 2000 yesterday afternoon as the Dean's Advisory Board, in conjunction with the College of Arts and Sciences, hosted a student panel on the presidential candidates. The panel consisted of four students who represented the four main candidates for president -- Senators Bill Bradley and John McCain, Texas Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore -- and was moderated by Political Science Professor Henry Teune. In answering the questions posed by Teune, the four representatives sought to convey each of their candidate's position on critical issues. About 30 people, most of whom were students, attended. For instance, the representatives demonstrated their differences on tax policy. College junior Michael Bassik, who represented Gore, argued that 70 percent of American taxpayers do not favor tax cuts. Rather, they would like to see the taxes used to revamp social security and Medicare and to decrease America's debt. In contrast, College senior Patrick Ruffini, who argued for Bush, favored tax cuts. "It is up to the citizens to decide where to spend their money," he said. "It is not Washington's money, it is the taxpayers' money." The panel exposed the spectators to the underdog candidates as well. College junior Cam Winton, who represented McCain, sought to emphasize the candidate's uprightness and ability to express his views regardless of their popularity. Winton explained that campaign finance reform is a priority for the senator because "it is at the heart of all the pressing issues in America. Soft money contributions to parties decrease the likelihood for compromise and poisons the overall system. As a result, important proposals, such as a patient's bill of rights, are being bogged down in Congress." On the Democratic side, College sophomore Matthew Oresman, who spoke on behalf of Bradley, outlined the candidate's aggressive educational policy. "I plan to fully fund all high school programs, improve access to community colleges and add 60,000 teachers per year. You've got to have teachers and I am fully committed to recruiting them." In emulating the candidates' campaigning strategies, the four students created an atmosphere that was intense yet respectful. Before allowing the four candidates to make their closing remarks, Teune joked, "This is the opportunity for each of the candidates to say something negative about the other." Nevertheless, Ruffini, pointing out that this presidential campaign has stayed away from mudslinging, spoke for the other three students when he responded, "I would rather not focus on the other candidates' shortcomings. I would prefer to concentrate on my positive attributes." The students who represented the candidates were chosen in part because of their involvement with the candidate's campaign. Oresman, is the co-chairman of Bill Bradley for President at Penn. Additionally, Bassik had worked with Gore over the summer by helping to arrange press events for the vice president on various morning shows. Patti Scullin, the associate director for external affairs at the College, helped choose the students by contacting the different political clubs. She felt her efforts were worthwhile. "I am amazed at how well prepared those four students were," she said. "They fully understood the candidates' positions on critical issues."