On the eve of one of the most hotly contested Government of the Student Body elections in memory, executive candidates and their running mates made a final plea Monday for the votes that could put them over the top.

About 50 students found their way to the Oak Room of the Memorial Union at noon Monday for the final debate of the two-week campaign season. GSB presidential and vice-presidential candidates put their best feet forward at a debate that ran a half-hour longer than scheduled.

Many of those in attendance said they had already chosen their candidates. Some said they had yet to decide even after the debate was over, and still others said they aren’t planning to vote.

“I think the answers were fake. I’m not voting,” one graduate student said while on his way out the door.

Not everyone agreed. Andy Lashier, a junior in finance, said he’s giving his vote to Todd Swanson and Amber Powell. Lashier said he came to the debate with his mind made up.

“I think Todd would be best at delegating. He knows that one person cannot change the world,” Lashier said.

Others found the more fiery comments from LaRhonda Potts and Rob Ruminski more appealing.

“It seems like GSB has been governed by pretty boys,” said Becky Witt, a junior in psychology. “I think [Potts and Ruminski] are the only two that have actual depth to what they say.”

Carrie Seim, a freshman in engineering, was somewhat undecided. “I was impressed with Rob Ruminski, but I liked the platform of Rob Wiese.” She attended to find material for Grandma Mojo’s Moonshine Revival, a sketch comedy group that satirized the GSB elections in the Maintenance Shop at 3 p.m. Monday.

The other slates — Brad Lozan and Melissa Cross, and Rory Flaherty and Jeff Halliburton — pulled in supporters as well.

The bulk of the debate was taken up by universal questions to which all candidates responded. There was little actual debating between candidates, who fielded questions first from Ryan Flaugh, GSB election commissioner and moderator, and then members of the audience.

Change

All of the candidates said they would like to bring changes to GSB.

Swanson, and others, said improving communication with students was the key to change. He said GSB committees should be better utilized. “In the past committee members haven’t been used to their full potential,” he said.

Flaherty said he plans, if elected, to assemble a “hard-working cabinet that speaks to students.”

Lozan said it starts with a vote for president. “It starts with picking a character with dedication to do the job,” he said.

Wiese said accountability to students was how he would affect change. “How do you get change? You have to go outside the organization to get change.” Wiese said he plans to attend student meetings outside of GSB and appoint a diverse cabinet if elected.

Potts said she would form a “networking system” with students across campus. Determination, will power and commitment, she said, are what she would use to change GSB.

Catt Hall

As with the previous debates, candidates were asked again about their Catt Hall views. Swanson, Flaherty and Wiese said they oppose renaming the building. Lozan said the issue is now out of a would-be GSB president’s hands, and Potts said she is in favor of renaming the building.

Catt Hall is named for Carrie Chapman Catt, an ISU alumnae who worked to get women the right to vote.

She has been accused of making racist remarks during her crusade.

Wiese compared Catt to Martin Luther King Jr., saying King treated women poorly, but King should still be remembered for his accomplishments. He also drew comparisons to Malcolm X and John F. Kennedy.

“I don’t feel Carrie Chapman Catt should be demonized for promoting women’s rights,” he said.

Swanson said Catt’s words have been taken out of context. “I find that Carrie Chapman Catt is giving an interpretation of what will happen if women are given the right to vote,” he said, referring to Catt’s statement that white supremacy would be strengthened if women were given the vote.

Ruminski disagreed, saying many people have only read one particular quote of Catt’s.

He said Catt’s remarks are consistently racist.

Potts agreed and criticized administrators for not taking time to speak with students before naming Catt Hall.

Lozan said he didn’t have enough information to make an informed decision.

Flaherty said although Catt’s literature could be interpreted many ways, he opposes renaming the building unless more evidence surfaces that proves Catt racist.

Diversity

In the wake of the now departed Big Eight Conference on Black Student Government, held on campus over the weekend, many at the debate said diversity issues were on their minds.

Ruminski and Potts said promoting diversity and combating racism were among their top priorities.

“You have to look at the world, every hour, every minute, with a certain view to fight these things,” Ruminski said.

Lozan said that’s not his job. “My role at Iowa State is not to combat racism,” he said.

“I’m here to get an education, not combat racism.”

Wiese said he has worked to “combat racism” by putting together diversity forums and rallies.

Specialty seats

The candidates reached a near consensus on another campus controversy: specialty seats in the Senate.

Two white male incumbent senators from Iowa are making bids to win minority and international seats on the Senate. The GSB Constitution does not require that minority and international senators actually be minority or international students. The same is true for disabled and nontraditional senators.

Most candidates spoke out in favor of keeping the seats. Swanson, however, questioned the precedent. “How far do we go? Why should one specialty group have a seat and another group shouldn’t?” he asked, adding that the seats have helped to make sure all voices are heard.

To the polls

ISU students must now decide who will lead them in the coming academic year. Students will go to the polls today through Thursday in the Oak Room of the Memorial Union. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday.

Candidates are allowed to keep campaigning, but not in the Union.