Presidential hopefuls offer up new ideas

Paige Godden—

The final Government of the Student Body presidential debate will be held 8 p.m. Thursday in the Oak Room of the Memorial Union.

During the last debate, the candidates — Luke Roling and Nate Dobbels, and Chandra Peterson and Jacob Wilson — were asked questions about the future of Campustown and student debt.

Each ticket was asked what sets them apart from the other, and to identify their biggest weaknesses.

Peterson’s answer focused on the relationships she has built around the community, while Roling’s answered that he and Dobbels are extremely well-rounded people.

Since the last debate, some more issues and ideas have sprung up on both parties’ platforms.

The Roling and Dobbels Web site, www.rolingdobbels.com, added a financial responsibility section to their blog.

“The recent creation of the GSB Events Account allows GSB to fund any student group for events entertaining and open to all students. This is a strong first step toward using fees to benefit students in the best way possible,” according to their blog. “We are committed to working out different aspects of funding that will be key in developing partnerships across campus.”

Roling and Dobbels have also been working with the Liberal Arts and Science College on a leadership certificate to better recognize leadership across campus.

In an e-mail, Roling said, “The leadership certificate we’re proposing is a significant expansion of that offered by the LAS College. Presently, that’s only open to certain majors across campus. Many students don’t even know it’s available to them.”

The Peterson and Wilson campaign also added the student platform to their list of issues.

Some current projects Peterson and Wilson are working on to make students feel part of GSB include holding listening posts on campus, where students can share their concerns, having GSB senators serve office hours outside of the GSB office, and re-establishing the GSB blog, while working with the senate to keep it updated.

A list of Peterson’s and Wilson’s issues are available at www.petersonwilson.com

Voting will be open March 1 and 2 at www.vote.iastate.edu.