Students for Open Discussion hosted a forum for student government candidates Friday. The candidates in attendance featured those campaigning for student government president, vice president and Senate.

Sen. Josie Pursley, a junior in political science, is running for president, and Sen. Erik Rowles, a junior in industrial design, is running for vice president. Pursley is vice speaker of the Senate and the Collegiate Panhellenic Council senator. Rowles is the College of Design Senator.

“Our mission statement is ‘together we can,’ as in together as Iowa State students, we all can work to make this campus a better place,” Pursley said.

Rowles said the two main focuses of the campaign are collaboration and communication. 

“There are over 30,000 students here at Iowa State, and we all want to hear everybody’s voices and have their opinions,” Rowles said.

Their campaign points include sustainability, transportation, downtown engagement, campus life, mental health support and sexual violence prevention.

“Working with others is really important so that we can gather more ideas and continue adding to our campaign points based on what’s important to students,” Pursely said.

Colby Brandt, a junior studying agricultural and rural policy studies running for president, and Will Vlasek, a junior majoring in agriculture systems technology, is running for vice president. Brandt is currently the director of governmental affairs.

“Our campaign slogan is, ‘We’ve got your back,’” Brandt said. “At the end of the day, when you’re paying thousands of dollars to be a student at Iowa State, you deserve to be supported throughout your time as a student.”

Their campaign highlights supporting ways for students to be safe, involved and supported.

“We’ve got your back when you want to be involved,” Vlasek said. “We’re going to collaborate with some incredible partners on campus, two of them being [the] student union board and homecoming central to host a cannot miss homecoming event here on campus. Think, food trucks and think artists that live here in Ames. Students here in Ames, in between Curtis and Beardshear, right on central campus, so that we can unite the student population around our school’s history.”

In terms of accountability, Vlasek proposed a “cent-by-cent” breakdown of the $94 student activity fee.

“We’ll partner with the Division of Student Affairs to support student safety on 801 Day,” Brandt said. “This is really a harm reduction strategy because, at the end of the day, we’ll never fully be able to eliminate 801 Day, but what we can do is ensure that our students are safe.”

They also proposed an affordable shuttle to the Des Moines airport and bus screens placed at every bus stop.

Eric Gerdes, a junior in communication studies running for College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Senator, and currently the director of outreach. 

“I’ve had the privilege of speaking with countless ISU students about what they would like to see changed or approved on campus,” Gerdes said. “Unfortunately, as a cabinet member, I’m unable to create bills or vote on legislation. After a lot of time on the sidelines during Senate meetings, I found that I wanted to take more of an active role and cast a vote on issues related to improving the student experience.”

Gerdes proposed implementing a feedback service on the student government website and expanding the parking ticket relief program to city of Ames tickets.

Finally, Ben Dohmen, a junior studying agriculture business, is running for College of Engineering Senator.

“I want to be people’s voice in the student government,” Dohmen said. “My ambition is to be an attentive listener to not just students, for the College of Engineering, but for all students. I want people to be able to come to me with concerns and make sure that they know I will be able to act on them.”

The candidates were asked what influenced their decision to run and their past experience with student government.

Pursley said she decided to run to “give back to the organization and give back to the students.”

Rowles echoed the same statement.

“When I joined, I looked up to the upper leadership, and it’s what inspired me to do better and listen better, and just pretty much be a better senator and the best person I possibly could be,” Rowles said. “It feels weird to be in a situation where I am what I was looking up to. It’s kind of surreal.”

Brandt said he decided to run to support all students.

“Every student at Iowa State University deserves to be supported, whether that looks like through Student Government, the clubs you’re involved in, or any other place on campus where you find your community, you deserve to have that support.”

Vlasek said he wanted to make a real change in the community.

“$2.7 million worth of change,” Vlasek said. “I think that’s pretty cool in terms of student government experience, this would be my first position within student government. That’s not to say I have a lack of executive-level leadership positions.”

The vice presidential debate is slated for Feb. 18 and the presidential debate for Feb. 25.