For the first time in my Iowa State history, I am paying attention to the GSB election that is coming up.

On February 22 I attended my first ever GSB candidate debate. This debate only reaffirmed for me who I will be supporting on March 1st and 2nd. At this debate I asked a question to Roling and Dobbels about the plans for our beloved Campustown; it was a two-sided one.

First, I asked if either of them lived off campus, to which they responded no. Then I asked what their plans were to make Campustown look beautiful so that businesses and residents will want to move to the location. After my question, I was met with a feeling of contempt from Roling and Dobbels on the issue. In a nutshell, they pretty much told me that Campustown does not need to look better before businesses and more students will want to live there. They were telling me, the student who has gone apartment shopping, what students are looking for in a place to live and be entertained. Marie Antoinette once said “Let the people of France eat cake,” when there was a bread shortage in the area.

These two, not living off campus and not really seeming interesting in getting to know what that’s like is not a comforting feeling. Roling and Dobbels gave no other plan for Campustown other than the economy needs a boost. Well, the last time I checked the entire country needs an economic boost so I feel that statement was just pure rhetoric and no substance.

“We are going to work with the city of Ames to come up with an economic solution,” said Roling. This is great and all but if we as students are not going to make any effort of our own to make Campustown look nice and attract more businesses, then in the end all the economic expertise in the world isn’t going help that area. Thankfully, there is an alternative.

That is why I am supporting Peterson and Wilson to be our next President and Vice President of the student body. Chandra Peterson has an excellent plan for how we are going to make Campustown look beautiful. The best part is that it involves us as students. Chandra and Jacob have been listening to the students all along which is what their campaign is largely built on.

It seems to me that Roling and Dobbels have an agenda of their own that they want to fufill. They were most definitely not listening to students when I made my statement at the debate about how many don’t want to move to the Campustown area because of how dirty it is and how much you have to pay to live in that filth. What other issues will those two completely ignore the students on and just solely work with those in higher power?

I say let’s not find out and just vote for Chandra Peterson and Jacob Wilson on March 1st and 2nd.

Mario Winburn is a junior in meteorology.