With three teams of two competing for the positions of student body president and vice president, a primary debate took place on Feb. 12. The debate was held in advance of the primary election Feb. 19, which will narrow the teams down to two for the general election.

The candidates met in Humanities Hall to publicly debate various topics, priorities and goals that they would implement if elected.

Question 1: How will you ensure that student’s voices will be heard?

Zach Freeman and Maya Khaskhely (ZF and MK): Over time, Freeman and Khaskhely want to have a student representative interacting with, and participating in, Clemson’s board of trustees to act on behalf of the student body. Freeman and Khaskhely also want to go to the students to actively seek out input, rather than having students come to them.

Eli Warnock and Ally Fields (EW and AF): Warnock and Fields plan to have Clemson Undergraduate Student Government weekly office hours emailed to students each week to provide students with the opportunity to sign up to voice their concerns at CUSG meetings. They also plan on tabling at every major CUSG event, increasing collaborations between CUSG and other student organizations and continuing to communicate with the administration.

Daniel Ocampo and Bailee Tayles (DO and BT): Ocampo and Tayles plan on utilizing responses from surveys sent to the student body via email. Then, they want to devote the president’s cabinet meetings to creating tangible initiatives for addressing student feedback. The two also plan on tabling and communicating with student organizations.

Question 2: What new traditions or events are you hoping to bring to Clemson’s campus?

ZF and MK: Freeman and Khaskhely want to renew, reestablish and build on older Clemson traditions, as well as encourage the tradition of serving the community as Clemson students. The two want to implement CUSG participation during Homecoming week in the fall by building a homecoming float. Additionally, they want to celebrate all aspects of Clemson’s history.

EW and AF: Warnock and Fields want to establish a “ring fund” to financially support Clemson students who are not able to afford a class ring. They also want to establish a diversity fund with the Council of Diversity Affairs, in which different organizations can apply for funding to plan events.

DO and BT: Ocampo and Tayles want to either revamp TigerQuest or create a new database where students can input their interests, and the database will match them with organizations that might interest them. They also want to encourage collaboration with organizations when hosting similar events and encourage more philanthropic-related communities and events.

Question 3: What is the most pressing concern that the student body faces, and how will you address that?

ZF and MK: Freeman and Khaskhely want to focus on student safety and developing a relationship with local political representatives. They also want to encourage a community on campus and ensure that every student feels safe and like they have a space.

EW and AF: Warnock and Fields want to help ensure that college finances do not prevent students from enjoying the Clemson experience. The two also want to redistribute some of the honoraria within student government and use CUSG resources to help students as much as they can with the issues that are in their control.

DO and BT: Ocampo and Tayles want to advocate for creating a new student union for Clemson students. They want to bridge the gap between the graduate and undergraduate student body and create more ways to talk to faculty and administrators to have more transparency with the student body.

Question 4: What improvements do you want to make to common areas and facilities on campus?

ZF and MK: Freeman and Khaskhely’s ultimate goal is for common areas to be welcoming, functional and accessible. They want to push for a student union and enhance the accessibility of current campus spaces to encourage community growth among students.

EW and AF: Warnock and Fields want to prioritize mental health and advocate for spaces that encourage mental health, specifically by potentially buying under-the-desk treadmills or standing desks in the library. They are also looking into the feasibility of softer lighting in academic spaces and making more spaces on campus more accessible to more students.

DO and BT: Ocampo and Tayles want to help the administration understand that they can trust the student government enough to work with them and that CUSG is working to be a direct reflection of what the student body wants. The two want to facilitate communication with facilities, especially for maintenance around campus and working toward an inclusive campus.

Question 5: What personal qualities make you the best candidate for student body president and vice president?

ZF and MK: Freeman and Khaskhely believe that they know how to serve others while also remaining humble and not expecting anything in return. The two listen well to others and connect with people easily. Freeman has tapped into all aspects of student life by participating in many various organizations and by being ambitious and honest.

EW and AF: Warnock and Fields believe that their prior experience in the cabinet and serving on executive committees has helped their knowledge regarding how to bring change quickly. The two know how the system works and can use it to their advantage.

DO and BT: Ocampo has teaching experience and believes that he knows how to help other people succeed. Tayles believes that she is dependable, approachable and able to understand people’s needs to advocate for them.

Question 6: How do you plan to work alongside Clemson’s administration to improve the University?

ZF and MK: Freeman and Khaskhely want to encourage transparency between faculty members and students for both parties to be understood, respected and supported. The two intend to foster a positive and beneficial relationship with the administration.

EW and AF: Warnock and Fields want to foster a relationship between the administration and students that encourages concise communication with mutual respect. They also intend to advocate on behalf of the student body to Clemson administrators to fix any student concerns.

DO and BT: Ocampo and Tayles want to keep an open dialogue with Clemson’s administration so that students’ needs are acknowledged. They also want to ensure that CUSG is continuously checking in with the student body to keep up with any concerns or suggestions.