Decked out in campaign logowear, student supporters listened intently as candidates discussed the issue of student awareness Thursday in the first Student Government Association debate.
Moderator Laura Helms, assistant to dean and director of academic programs, asked both presidential candidates how they would ensure students' voices are heard.
Jayson Manship, current SGA president, said he wants to build on relationships with other universities' student leaders to create a state student government.
"By representing students at a statewide level," Manship said,"we as a group can push the legislature about issues concerning us."
Ben Tietz, presidential candidate and current SGA vice president, said his administration would have monthly open forums.
The forums would give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to voice their concerns to the student government, he said.
Both Manship and Tietz agreed that student awareness and involvement are important.
Manship said his current administration is working on a phone tree for campus organizations.
"The goal is to create a system of communication," Manship said. "It's coming through the final stages. Myself and the current SGA secretary are finishing it up as a class project."
However, Tietz said his administration plans to visit and follow up with campus organizations.
"We wouldn't expect the students to come to us for their voices to be heard," Tietz said. "The forums would give students the opportunity to voice their concerns."
Graduate student Paul Muenzer said he thought the debate was interesting, but he said they didn't address two issues.
"I was surprised the Student Center and the presidential search didn't get more play," Muenzer said. "I liked the question brought up by the students about student involvement, but I felt the candidates were afraid to call the students out on their involvement."
Both Manship and Tietz said they didn't have the opportunity to discuss some key issues from their platforms.
Manship said he wanted to address students' public safety.
"Honestly, I thought it would come up," he said. "The biggest problem is the relationship between the students and the police."
Tietz said he wanted to talk about co-sponsorship, allowing student organizations to ask SGA for co-sponsorship of events.
"It's important for organizations to come back to SGA for help," he said. "We will do what we can to make sure the student voices are heard. We want the student body to know we're here."
The second debate will be between all members of the two slates Feb. 26.
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