NIU College Republicans President Gary Yambor and NIU Young Democrats Chairman John Morreale debated the merits of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty, America’s involvement in Central America and financing education in a three hour debate Wednesday.

About 55 College Republicans, Young Democrats, John Lennon Society members and community members attended the debate in the Holmes Student Center.

Morreale said, “I believe that the INF treaty … was definitely a step in the right direction.” However, he said the treaty reduced nuclear arms by 4 percent. A larger reduction is necessary to “really make a difference,” he said.

Yambor said, “I think the treaty stinks for four reasons. One, the Soviets have never held up to treaties before. Two, Soviets have not shown good intentions in Afghanistan and other countries like Poland and Angola. Three, the INF treaty is Cuban neutral. Cuba is a puppet of the Soviet Union. And four, the essence of Soviet politics is to end capitalism and ensure Soviet victory.”

Morreale countered by saying the treaty came about because republicans “woke up and smelled the coffee and said, ‘Hey, history books will be written pretty soon—we better do something about this arms race.'”

On the situation in Central America, Yambor said, “I think it’s good and important when our allies call for our help that we give them the aid they need.

“When a Marxist regime invaded Honduras, we were asked to help. We sent our boys down, gave a message to the Sandinistas, and now they are coming back safe,” he said.

Morreales said the problem in Nicaragua is poverty and lack of education. “The people in Nicaragua want … to be left alone.”

On the topic of public education, Yambor said, “We have to teach our children how to read and write. We do not have to teach them secular humanism and American history the way that some social scientist would like to think it happened.”

Yambor cautioned that the government must be assured something is beneficial before spending money.

Morreale said educating children will cost more than other important problems. “Problems like inadequate levels of day care and drug usage in schools need to be acted upon.”

The audience participated in the discussion after Yambor and Morreale finished their formal debate.