Thelmo Debate Recap
On Tuesday night, seven students threw their hats in the ring to replace The Thelomaethsian Society’s outgoing representatives. Among the positions they contended for were secretary, vice president of senate affairs, vice president of university relations, and president of senate affairs.
Three students are running for for secretary: Kylie Burnet ’26, Kianna Linn ’26 and Daniel Ruaño ’26. Of the two running for secretary at the debate, both demonstrated impressive campus involvement: balancing sports, jobs, schoolwork, and club commitments with the intent to accept a time-consuming role in the student government. Current representatives, Nina Spinney ’25 and Dean Brooker ’25 emphasized time management and organization as skills necessary for their success as secretary. It was clear from the debate that both students were well-qualified and would make excellent representatives.
There was only one candidate running for vice-president of senate affairs: Pedro Yupa ’25. He emphasized the need for Thelmo to increase their ongoing commitment to creating a more inclusive environment for any and all members of the student body, BIPOC students especially.
Inci Ucar ’26 was the only candidate to run for vice president of university relations at the debate. She promised to be a bridge between the student body and the administration. She also plans to reactivate the university’s TEDx program and establish channels of communication between students and faculty, which students can use to voice academic concerns. Ruaño is also running for VPUR, but was not present at the debate.
The debate heated up when the three presidential candidates took center stage. Kimberly Bravo ’25 demonstrated her dedication to increasing student wages. In the fall, she distributed a survey to all students, soliciting their opinions and putting forth potential solutions to remedy their concerns over low wages going forward. She asked us to “vote on action, not words.” Cole Siebels ’26 addressed student concerns over budget cuts and lack of funding for clubs. “A vote for me,” Siebels said, “is a vote for real change.” Tanley Tibbetts ’26 advocated for increased inclusivity. She wants the student body to feel more cohesive and communal. She expressed a shared disappointment in the unexpected cancellation of Fall Fest and wants to create more events that will draw students from every corner of campus.
When asked how to manage Thelmo commitments amidst a busy academic and extracurricular schedule, Siebels answered: “I don’t always get eight hours, but at the end of the day, you have to persevere.” Other candidates expressed similar sentiments, willing to prioritize THELMO over other aspects of their lives. Additionally, each candidate seemed open and eager to receive criticism. Bravo said that “any well-rounded student is open to criticism” and that criticism helps “open channels of communication.”
The debate was going well, with mutual respect among all candidates, until one student accused members of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity of tearing down Tanley’s posters to give Siebel more representation. The accusation caused an uproar among members of ATO, who sat in the back to show support for Siebels. Ashlee Downing-Duke was forced to ask audience members and candidates alike to simmer down so that Siebels could respond. Naturally, he denied the accusation and of having any involvement with the alleged destruction of campaign posters. Yik Yak blew up as a result.
Amidst the chaos and the peace, one thing was clear from Tuesday night’s debate: each candidate was extremely articulate and committed to advocating on behalf of the student body. Voting opened on Nov. 8, and closes Nov. 17th. Make sure to get your votes in before it’s too late!