DEKALB | The Student Association and the Campus Activity Board held their debate Tuesday night at the Altgeld Hall Ballroom, where fewer than 50 students were in attendance. The candidates answered questions from a panel.

The main points of contention were the proposed GPS for the Huskie Bus Line and communication between SA officers and the student body.

“The first goal I would like to accomplish is having a massive campaign to inform students of available staff positions,” said Jarvis Purnell, an SA presidential candidate. “I feel that having a good staff is an important part of the SA.”

Purnell also expressed interest in improving busing conditions on the Huskie Bus Line.

Republican SA presidential candidate Aaron Funfsinn also stressed communication and collaboration.

“Although the power of appointment lies with the president, in order to ensure successful and productive appointees, we need greater collaboration between the president, the senate and the student body,” he said.

Although Purnell expressed interest in maintaining a GPS tracking system that would allow students to monitor the Huskie Bus Line on the Web, democratic SA presidential hopeful Luiz Zaragoza disagreed.

“I’m against the GPS,” Zaragoza said. “I don’t think it will do any good. The money would be better spent on getting more buses on the road. I would like to increase communication and keep the students informed.”

WIth the NIU Board of Trustees set to vote on a proposed student fee increase Thursday, student trustee candidate Shaun Crisler felt students should have more say in how their money is spent.

“My first goal would be to design an open forum for students to discuss student fees,” he said. “Students want to know where their money is spent. Secondly, I would look at how the campus can improve the success for students with disabilities. As students, we all have one goal, and that is to be successful and graduate.”

Lindsey Swanson, also is vying for student trustee, also expressed openness and communication.

“I want to have a lot of office hours so everyone knows my door is always open,” she said. “We need to get on the same page with each other, the executive board and the senate board.”

Erick Brenes, the SA election commissioner, felt the debate was a success.

“Students have told me that they don’t choose to vote because they don’t know the candidates,” Brenes said. “So, with this debate, we have given them an opportunity to know these people and hopefully it will help and increase the numbers of students who vote.”