Jensen snags endorsement from Dems.

After a fiery debate Monday, Tom Jensen took home the Young Democrats’ endorsement in the first forum of this year’s student body president campaign.

While all candidates did a great job and presented good ideas, Jensen’s ideas spoke to the majority of the group’s members, said Blakely Whilden, co-president of Young Democrats.

Jensen, who has been a member of Young Democrats since his freshman year, served as party affairs director last fall and was key in organizing campaign operations.

“Minority issues was key,” Whilden said. “He has good ideas to reach out to the minorities in any sense of the word.”

Jensen’s platform ideas — including support for the Green Energy Initiative, open relations with the Chapel Hill Town Council as a member of Students for a Progressive Chapel Hill, a reform of student government funding and tuition plans — addressed many concerns of the more than 80 members who voted.

The forum was the first of the campaign season, a provision set in the Young Democrats’ constitution.

“Our endorsement can be a pretty big tool, considering our listserv will go out to over 2,000 students,” said Peter Tinti, Young Democrats secretary. The winner of the past two student body president elections was endorsed by YD.

At the beginning of the forum, candidate Seke Ballard passed out a critique of Jensen’s and candidate Seth Dearmin’s platforms — an uncommon move in recent history.

Tinti moderated the forum, asking eight questions that focused on issues important to the organization — ranging from minority issues to the Green Energy Initiative, a campaign to improve the campus environment by supporting renewable energy sources.

“That referendum was very important to us,” Tinti said. “We want to get candidates on the record saying they support this campaign.”

Jensen is the only candidate who has not taken part in Student Congress or the executive branch of student government.

“Since Tom is an outsider looking in, I think he may have appealed to some students not involved with student government,” Whilden said.

Dearmin, former co-chairman for the executive branch’s public service and advocacy committee, said he believes his student government experience makes him a good choice. He is looking to improve the campus advising system and strengthen the programs that already work.

“Attitude and experience are definitely the two things that set me apart,” Dearmin said.

Candidate Leigha Blackwell devised her platform after conducting a survey of 600 students to learn their top concerns. She wants to focus her attention on communication and collaboration.

“We need to use what we have and bring it to its fullest potential,” she said.

Ballard said he believes his vision of making the University one of the best in the nation is synonymous with that of the entire campus.

“The fact that my platform has a more forward-looking vision for this University sets me apart from the other candidates,” Ballard said.

Candidates said they are eager for the opportunity to present their platforms at future forums, such as the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies’ forum tonight at 7:30 p.m. in their meeting room of New East.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.