With a debate on the way, Loyola may be one of the first battlegrounds for the upcoming New Orleans mayoral election.
The Loyola Society for Civic Engagement, a student organization that works to facilitate political discussion among members of the Loyola community, is planning to hold a mayoral debate on Jan. 13.
Alex Fournet, international business and religious studies junior and editorial editor for The Maroon, is the conservative chair for LSCE. Fournet said he and other members of the group are aiming to have an open dialogue between the candidates and the New Orleans community. This will also give students the opportunity to discuss their opinions and be able to hear first-hand what the candidates have to offer to the city, Fournet said.
“We want to show the rest of the country we’re students who are taking active roles in our city,” Fournet said.
Fournet said that this is a race that is already getting a lot of national attention, including an article from the New York Times. Yet, he emphasized the role that students were playing in staging the debate.
“More importantly, this is a debate devised by students, organized by students and run by students,” Fournet said.
The event is also being sponsored by a number of other student organizations at Loyola, including Student Government Association, Black Student Union, University Honors Association and College Republicans. LSCE saw the mayoral debate as a way to bring politics to Loyola.
“It’s a way for the community to be able to hear what the candidates have to say and to give people an idea of who is running the city,” Fournet said.
The mayoral debate will be focusing on corruption, government transparency and the city government. Corruption has been a major issue in the city, so it will be one of the main topics addressed at the debate, Fournet said.
At the debate, student organizations will be able to pre-submit questions to the candidates. LSCE is encouraging students to take part in the event to be able to interact with the community and hear important issues.
“It will be one of the few chances to see the candidates talk and address the issues,” said Sarah Beth Ryther, history junior and the chair of non-partisan affairs for LSCE.
Mai Bader can be reached at
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