USG presidential and vice presidential candidates went toe-to-toe Tuesday night in a debate which gave students a peek into the potential future of Greek life at USC.
This year’s debate featured four tickets: Dacity and Abitha Nunis, Julianna Melendez and Klarissa Palacios, Sam Stack and Christian Shaw and Bryan Fernandez and Brianna Sanchez. Each speaker began with opening statements encapsulating their views on the issues that define their campaign.
The four pairs debated free speech, campus safety, student wellness and other issues, each making their case for the candidacy.
Though many topics were debated, the issue of policy around Greek life received the most varied answers among the tickets. Some were in support of the activities of Greek life, some were opposed and some wanted to shift the conversation to different topics entirely.
Greek life at USC has been a popular talking point since 2022, a year that saw the number of USC affiliated fraternities drop from 15 to four according to USC Greek Life. Moderators asked what the university’s relationship with Greek Life should be, sparking polarizing responses from the tickets and showcasing what is perhaps the greatest policy gap between the tickets. It also highlighted the issue’s potential to be a deciding factor in the executive race.
“To put any on campus group at risk of being abolished is insensitive,” said Shaw, a vice-presidential candidate and the first to respond. He advocated for the creation of a liaison between USG and IFC/USC Panhellenic to improve lines of communication between the two entities. “To say that the issues found in Greek life are found only in Greek life is insensitive, and claiming that sexual assault happens only to women is insensitive.”
Dacity, USC’s first candidate running in drag, seemed to hold the opposite view, saying Greek life at USC is a net negative.
“The Greek life system institutionally is having people get assaulted and hazed,” said Dacity, who responded to Shaw’s commentary on the issue. “To say that it is the option of socializing within Greek life or to not socialize at all, is undermining the fact that we have a thousand RSOs on campus that are actually focused, passionate, specific and don’t share an origin that is made for the white man.”
Despite clearly having an opposing view, Dacity, unlike Shaw, did not share any policy recommendations regarding this issue.
Presidential candidate Palacios followed Dacity and took the conversation in a different direction. Rather than comment on the state of greek life at USC, she focused on transitioning the conversation to one around the availability and quality of university support for those who have experienced assault.
“We’ve had to evaluate our RSVP sexual assault online platform for students in need. We know that it’s not the most transparent and supportive process that it needs to be,” said Palacios. “Rather than focusing on Greek life, let’s pivot towards the resources available and the DEI positions in Greek life we can improve.”
Fernandez, representing the Bryan Fernandez and Brianna Sanchez pair, campaigning as B&B, concluded the discussion on the relationship between USC administration and Greek life by issuing a broader statement about his beliefs regarding the responsibility of the presidential role.
“All of these people are still part of USC,” said Fernandez. “When you take this role you are talking about representing every single USC student despite their interests and despite what they are joining.”
Fernandez wrapped up his statement with a comment USC students may want to keep in mind when selecting a candidate as voting begins February 20. “Our job is to be collaborative and proactive.”
Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified Christian Shaw as a presidential candidate. He is running for vice-president on a ticket with Sam Stack as a presidential nominee. Bryan Fernandez, a presidential candidate, was also erroneously referred to as Ryan Fernandez in one instance. Annenberg Media regrets the error.