As 65 candidate supporters and onlookers gathered around the Student Senate Chambers Thursday night, the Student Body Presidential candidates gave voice to their vision of N.C. State’s future.

The six candidates running this year were grilled on topics ranging from their plans on how to balance their academics with the position’s demanding schedule to their past experience on campus. Each candidate was given 60 seconds to answer questions clearly and concisely.

Debate moderator and senior in English Chris Cioffi held up a picture of Snooki when candidates had 10 seconds remaining.

Ethan Bartlett, a junior in management, who kicked off the debate with his opening statement, emphasized his experience with the current Student Government regime.

“I feel I have the experience necessary to take on this position,” Bartlett said.

As current Student Body President Kelly Hook’s Chief of Staff, Bartlett claimed his necessary experience comes from being Hook’s “right hand man.”

Bartlett focused the majority of his rhetoric on the disconnect between the student body and its understanding of Student Government, which works closely with University administration.

“There is a divide between the student body and the administration,” Bartlett said. “My goal is to connect the student body and the administration.”

But not all candidates agreed.

Alex Grindstaff, a former member of Student Government’s executive branch, said Student Government often gets in the way of what’s best for students, and claimed he could reverse this.

“I want to put students before student government,” Grindstaff said.

Max Kangkolo, a junior in business administration, has no student government experience, but said while the debate may be about who should be the next Student Body President, the real focus of the candidates’ energies should be on student needs.

“Without the student body, this position wouldn’t be needed,” Kangkolo said. “It’s definitely about the student body, not the student body President.”

Alex Compton, who has not had any student government experience, said he has “enough diversity [in on-campus activities] to understand student needs,” and cited his participation in the University’s rugby team as one such example of this diversity.

“I want to make sure every student’s voice is heard,” Compton said. “I’ll do my best to make sure that every students needs are met.”

Leo Verceles-Zara, a junior in biochemistry with no prior Student Government experience, said although he, like every other candidate, believes he is the best one for the job, it’s up to the students to choose candidates based on their own ideals.

“Go out there and vote for the candidate that you believe aligns best with your ideas,” Verceles-Zara said.

Tom Stafford, vice chancellor for student affairs, said he believes having a debate helps students decide on their voting preferences because it gives students a chance to hear each candidate’s proposals all at once.

“A forum like [the debate] is always really helpful to voters,” Stafford said. “If you know who you are going to vote for, you may change your mind when you hear them in a debate.”

Chandler Thompson, a junior in economics, has been involved in student government for the entirety of her tenure here at N.C. State. She said she enjoyed the debate given all the candidates were able to gather and let their voices be heard.

“When you are choosing a student body President, you have to make sure that who you vote for is aware of the job, and is prepared to handle the job,” Thompson said.

Hook, who left halfway through the debate, had a message similar to Thompson’s, and said she finds it strange that people with no Student Government experience think they are capable of leading the campus community.

 ”I think it’s weird that [candidates without experience] are coming into [student government] and have a strong a desire to lead to the organization in which they have never been a part of, and have never attempted to ask what I think [being Student Body President] is about,” Hook said.