Government of the Student Body vice presidential candidates Chris Robert and Garrett Toay debated Wednesday afternoon before about a dozen people in the Gold Room of the Memorial Union.

Robert and Toay agreed on many of the issues they were asked to discuss, though they did not see eye to eye on the student fees-funded special projects account.

One plank of Robert and presidential candidate Ben Studenski’s platform seeks to refund unused student fees that currently are put into a special projects account.

“The special projects account is too large, and part of it at least should be refunded or found a different home,” Robert said.

Toay said he and presidential candidate Matt Craft feel student fees and the special projects account are fine the way they are.

“Our biggest fight is tuition,” Toay said.

Mike Pogge, LAS, said the interest accrued on the special projects account is needed to pay costs in running campus accounting for groups.

Pogge asked Robert how he intended to find alternate funding for that purpose.

“Financial matters are not my strong suit, and to tell you the truth, I’m not sure,” Robert said.

“It’s not my intent to completely wipe out the account,” he later added.

Two issues Toay and Robert did agree on were getting students more involved with GSB and confronting the lighting problem on campus.

Both vice presidential candidates also felt the GSB Web page is in need of improvement.

“I’m very disappointed at this point in time with the GSB Web page,” Robert said. “It’s a real shame the current events on the Web page are things that happened last fall.”

Toay said he was “in total agreement with Chris.”

In addition to updating the GSB Web page, Toay said he and Craft intend on having a show on KURE 88.5 FM to make more students aware of what’s going on in GSB.

The proposed two-hour show would allow listeners to call Craft and Toay on the air to answer GSB-related questions. Toay said they also plan to bring senate and cabinet members on the show.

As a way to be more accessible to the student body, Toay said he and Craft plan on attending more student group and constituency council meetings.

“That way, the students actually have a chance to come and talk with us,” he said.

“We’re students as well; we’re one of them, and we want to see Iowa State University be a better school,” Toay said.

Pogge also asked how the candidates felt about a bill the senate faced Wednesday night asking for about $18,000 to improve lighting on campus and to install emergency phones.

“Considering GSB is not supposed to fund items the university is supposed to fund, is this the best answer?” he asked.

Both Toay and Robert said they felt GSB should not fund these campus improvements.

“When you pay tuition at Iowa State, you deserve a safe campus,” Toay said. “I think it should be taken care of by the university.”

Dave Crawford, undeclared senior, asked why the candidates were addressing issues they could not vote on in the senate.

“Your opinion doesn’t offer very much,” he said.

Toay said although technically the vice president does not have a vote in the senate, “We have … to make the students aware of what’s going on.”

Robert said executives are important for GSB because they represent the issues students feel are important.

“They chose us, and maybe the senate will follow our lead,” he said.

Both candidates said they want to see a big voter turnout for the elections.

“The image of GSB has been tarnished in the past, and we need to make sure everyone gets out and votes,” Toay said.

Robert reiterated points made in Tuesday’s presidential debate when Craft said, “I realize that Garrett and I aren’t going to be the choice for everyone out there, and neither are Ben and Chris.”

“If you want to go out and vote for Matt and Garrett, that’s fine with me,” Robert said.

However, he said if that slate is not your best choice, “Please, please vote for Ben and Chris.”

The full slate executive debate will be held today at noon in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union.