Graduate and Professional Student Government hosts presidential debate

The Graduate and Professional Student Government hosted a debate between the 2024-25 GPSG presidential candidates, Nyssa Tucker and Leah Frazier, on Tuesday.

Current GPSG President Katie Heath moderated the debate as candidates discussed their platforms.

Opening statements

Tucker, a senator representing Toxicology, opened by highlighting their legislative record with the senate and role as the acting president of the Workers Union at UNC. Tucker said they’ve been active in campus safety efforts, along with raising housekeeper wages and graduate student stipends, noting that the stipends have not been adequate. 

Frazier, a pharmacology doctoral candidate, began by stating her roles within GPSG, first as a senator for pharmacology, then as the finance committee chair and currently as the joint governance council chair. Frazier also mentioned her participation in the UNC Initiative for Maximizing Student Development, her mentorship of underrepresented students and her TikTok account discussing graduate school needs.

Platforms and policies

Frazier said she has begun working on promoting inclusion by reaching out to different department heads to gauge how federal changes have impacted students. As president, she hopes to work with GPSG senators and the GPSG vice president for diversity and inclusion to address concerns of department heads being unable to obtain student demographic information from the University.

Tucker’s approach to addressing DEI and accessibility focuses on increasing the baseline stipend for all graduate students. They said the way people are supported at UNC may be a reason behind why they may find trouble in their doctoral programs.

Both candidates said having transparency in a presidential role is crucial in having the support of the Senate and the graduate and professional students at UNC.

During her time as the joint governance chair, Frazier said she has seen the need for collaboration between the branches. As president, she would aim to hold regular meetings with committee chairs to develop a comprehensive understanding on all issues being brought into the Joint Governance Council.

Tucker said they have full confidence in the legislative branch’s capacity to continue issuing resolutions and to serve the interests of constituents. They also said it is important that the honor court be returned to the previous student-led system.

“Lee Roberts is in no way a peer to understand the situation, the lived experience of pursuing a graduate degree, so I think we need to reel it back in to put it back into our hands in the judicial branch,” Tucker said. 

Audience questions 

Before the submitted audience questions were read, a motion was passed to have the questions read verbatim.

Frazier was questioned about her decision to vote against the no-confidence resolutions surrounding Roberts and Provost Chris Clemens. She said that her vote was based on the views of the pharmacology department and does not convey her personal beliefs. 

Tucker responded by saying the GPSG president is acting not only in the best interest of the people, but also on their personal integrity.

Frazier was then asked about her decision to vote against the resolution to dismiss UNC Police Captain Rahsheem Holland after concerns of violence towards students. Frazier reiterated that her vote reflects the people she’s representing.

When asked about the first three policies the candidates would prioritize in-office, Frazier said she wants to advocate for vacation times for graduate students, improve departments' commitments to wellness days and ensure departments can share the demographic information needed to be fully funded. 

In the Zoom chat, multiple senators expressed concerns about the nature and potential bias of the debate.

“It was purely an attack on one candidate and definitely targeted prematurely,” Britney Alcira, senator representing biochemistry, said in the chat. “Out of the three terms I have served on the senate, I have never seen a debate run this way.” 

The GPSG presidential election is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 6. Voting is available online through HeelLife.

@calebherrera

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