Debates for Government of the Student Body positions will be held this week.

Presidential and vice presidential candidates will debate as well as candidates running for engineering and design senate seats.

The first debate will be Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union between the presidential and vice presidential candidates. The executive candidates will also debate Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Gold Room of the Union.

Debates for the engineering and design senate seats will be Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Pioneer Room.

All debates are open to the public.

Four students running for president and vice president are currently involved in GSB.

Presidential candidate T.J. Schneider, director of academic affairs, is running with Joe Darr, off-campus.

Steve Medanic, finance director, and Andrew Kothenbeutel, TRA, are running against Schneider and Darr.

Although the two slates are concerned with many of the same issues, Schneider said he thinks there are variations.

“Our leadership styles are somewhat different,” Schneider said. “[Darr] and I are more pro-active for students.”

Both slates said they are very concerned about tuition increases and campus safety.

“When we first came to Iowa State University, tuition was 40 percent lower,” Kothenbeutel said. “The quality of education is going down, while prices are going up. We want to make sure ISU remains a budgetary priority.”

Kothenbeutel said previous experience with the Iowa Board of Regents and the Department of Public Safety are some reasons he and Medanic are best for the job.

“I’ve been to the Board of Regents all four years, and we think we can represent our cause,” Kothenbeutel said. “Steve and I have had a lot of experience dealing with these issues and the administrators. They know our names.”

Schneider said they already have ideas about how to improve campus safety.

“We want to make sure we are not only keeping campus safe, but the streets safe by extending the hours of the [Moonlight] Express,” he said. “We are working with students on campus who think this is a good idea.”

Schneider has also been working on the Dead Week policy.

“We want to help alleviate the stress that is put on the student body by making stricter policies,” he said.

Five candidates are running for an engineering senate seat: Nathan Johnson, sophomore in mechanical engineering; Dave Boike, junior in electrical engineering; Jason Carroll, freshman in civil engineering; Kristen Banas, senior in mechanical engineering; and Lee Edgar, senior in civil engineering.

Timothy Baker, sophomore in pre-architecture, will be debating Jessica Nordgren, junior in art and design, for the College of Design senate seat.

Some of the candidates said they are nervous, although they enjoy public speaking.

“I have experience speaking in front of people, but I’m always a little nervous,” Kothenbeutel said.

Having answers ready for a variety of questions can be challenging, Schneider said.

“I think the biggest obstacles to overcome in debates are being ready to answer any type of questions, and the ability to think on your feet,” he said. “I like talking in front of people and making sure they understand where I’m coming from.”

Kothenbeutel said although the two slates often share similar concerns, how long the candidates have been actively involved does matter.

“Basically we have the same key issues,” he said. “It comes down to a difference in experience.”