Students with a passion for the university and its potential gathered at the annual Student Government Association debate last week.

The SGA debate was held Tuesday, March 24 at Fayard Hall 107 from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the debate was for students to voice their opinion on why they would be effective if given an officer position.

Around 20 potential candidates for student government positions, some already affiliated with SGA and some not, came together to explain why they had what it takes to be given a position.

The candidates came from various backgrounds, classifications and majors, and they focused on issues as diverse as the concerns of international students to increasing involvement with the campus as a whole.

The two candidates for the SGA presidency, the current SGA Vice President Alexis Quackenbush and current SGA Chief Justice Tim Reling, both promise to find ways to keep the student body more informed about campus issues.

“My goals are to get more students involved, because this helps retain students on campus,” said Quackenbush. “Also, I would encourage more involvement in sports and the athletic department… [particularly more attention on] basketball and baseball. Another thing I would like to do is make counselors more available for students. Most students are not aware that we have free counselors available to help them. I would also like to extend library hours. Lots of students have come to me about that.”

Reling’s aims were different.

“Students should not have to go to us,” said Reling, applied sociology graduate student. “We should go to them. We cannot make informed decisions without talking to them. I think we need bi-monthly meetings with students for proper representation. If you agree that student leaders need to be more representative of what is going on on-campus and in the nation, then please consider voting for me.”

Reling mentioned all of his accomplishments from his time at SGA so far, such as starting the sexual abuse awareness advocacy campaign.  In particular, he believes there needs to be more of a focus on social justice issues within SGA.

“Social justice needs to be advocated for,” said Reling. “Student leaders need to be at the front of it.”

For more information on the SGA, check out their page on the university website.