Student Senate secretary hopeful Katherine Ladner speaks during the senate debate in the HT commons Tuesday. (Sidney Hollingsworth/The Daily Campus)

Catylzed by upcoming Student Senate elections on Wednesday, political interest is at an all time high on campus.

Senate presidential, vice presidential and secretarial candidates gathered in Hughes-Trigg Commons to discuss their platforms to a group of about thirty students who braved tornado warnings to come see candidates speak.

The forum allowed each candidate to stress their experiences and ideas as they answered questions from the audience members.

For Alex Mace, running unopposed for student body president, the event was an opportunity to emphasize why he is the best candidate for the role.

“I’m your only choice but hopefully I’m the best one,” Mace said. “My presidency will focus on communication and community.”

SMU’s move to the Big East has sparked debate on how the university can improve its school spirit – an issue that all candidates agree with.

“I want to create yell leader positions. I want to see new cheers and chants,” Zane Cavender, one of three vice presidential candidates, said. “We are in the Big East now.”

The other two vice presidential candidates agreed with Cavender.

“I want to bridge the gap between students and sports. It would be great if we could meet with athletes and build their own personal connection with players,” Travis Carlile said.

Candidates also agreed on the issue of stronger communication between students, administrators and Senate.

“We should institute office hours for student senators. Each senator needs to be held accountable to meet with their assigned organizations,” Cohagen Wilkinson said.

Katherine Ladner, the only official candidate for secretary, stressed communication as the main issue of her campaign.

“I want to bridge the gap between the Senate and the student body,” she said. “It would be great if students could subscribe to Senate minutes.”

For vice presidential candidates, the only students competing for votes, differentiation was a point of emphasis.

“I am the only candidate that has experience in the Senate chamber,” Wilkinson said. “It is crucial to know Senate policies.”

The candidates also answered more general questions about leadership.

All candidates were asked to answer the question: what is the single most important quality of a student leader?

“Compatibility is a critical issue. I want people to come in and tell me to get things done and suggest things to be done,” Cavender said.

Each candidate took a unique approach in answering the question.

“Initiative is the most important thing for any student leader. It is actually doing what you say you are going to do,” Carlile said.

Wilkinson added to Carlile’s point on leadership.

“It is about responsibility more than anything. You have to be able to keep promises that you make in the election process,” he said.

The forum was helpful for students who were undecided about the vice presidential race.

“The forum really helped me understand who stood for what issue,” Binh Doan, a first year, said. 

Videos shot and edited by Meredith Carlton [email protected]