Oct. 22, 2014

By Michael Riley

In continued Royal Purple coverage of the Wisconsin governor’s election, three UW-Whitewater students who help lead political organizations on campus provided their impressions of the Oct. 17 debate.

Co-Chair of the UW-Whitewater College Republicans Allison Strauel, Chair of the UW-Whitewater College Democrats Jon Greve and President of Young Americans for Liberty Shane Otten all watched Gov. Scott Walker and Mary Burke respond to questions at the debate for the Nov. 4 election.

Although Strauel and Greve both believed their candidate was overall better than the other, Otten did not share the same confidence.

“I did not think there was a clear winner,” Otten said.  “From a debate standpoint it was pretty bland. I wish they would have had the Libertarian candidate present because it would of given an alternative view to the voters and an extra flavor of spice.”

Strauel explained her impression of the debate.

“I think Gov. Walker’s plan for the state fits better with our generation,” Strauel said. “Governor Walker and the Republican legislature understand Mary Burke’s one-size-fits-all, top-down approach to government won’t work for our generation. In the debate, we saw the successes of Gov. Walker and how he can keep the state moving forward.”

The candidates shared their positions with voters on certain topics – specifically in response to southeastern and Milwaukee focused questions – but some UW-W students felt some topics were left out.

Otten said the people asking the questions should have thought to ask about the Common Core State Standards Initiative and  health care options.

Strauel thought a question should have been asked that related to how each candidate planned to help college students.

“We are in a time where many students are apathetic toward politics and they feel that we cannot affect anything or make any changes to the political climate,” Strauel said. “I think that having both of the candidates both touch on particularly what both will do for students is something that would help young people be more engaged about the upcoming election.”

While each side of the political spectrum could agree more could have been asked, it could not have been more opposite when the topic of Burke’s recent reports of
plagiarism in her job’s plan was asked.

Greve thought Burke’s first chance to respond to the plagiarism on a widely viewed medium was adequate.

“In terms of the plagiarism question, I thought she did an okay job,” Greve said. “As college students, we know that plagiarism is bad and a big deal because it can get you kicked out of school. I think with what Mary Burke said with it being a mistake by someone else – I think – is a fair thing to say. I don’t think she herself choose to plagiarize. I think it was a simple mistake from someone else.”

Strauel and Otten did not share the same viewpoint as Greve.

“I though Burke’s answer on the plagiarism was weak,” Strauel said. “Her repeated attempts to blame the plagiarism in her jobs plan on her consultant, I thought it was unacceptable. Especially as students, we are expected to demonstrate academic integrity, which is held to a very high standard.  If a student were to plagiarize, it would greatly jeopardize your academic career. I don’t think it is wrong for us to hold Mary Burke to a different standard that students are held to.”

Otten also believed the plagiarism is unacceptable.

“First of all, I think it is terrible,” Otten said. “She tried to cover it up by saying she will take the best ideas from everywhere but it is pretty blatant what she did. She could have taken more responsibility.”

The Young Americans for Liberty meet at 6 p.m. every other Wednesday in U.C. 262. The College Republicans meet 6 p.m. every Wednesday in U.C. 261 and the College Democrats meet 6 p.m. every Wednesday in Hyland 1300.

“You have a great opportunity to select your political representation,” Otten said. “It is a chance that we should not take for granted because other countries do not have this luxury, so we should take advantage because it is a blessing that we have.”