Seated close together and in alphabetical order, the 10 candidates running for Student Government president and vice president came together for their first public discussion of University issues.Nearly 100 students crowded the central meeting room of the Sigma Chi Fraternity house to support their favorite SG candidates in the third annual Greek Debate on Thursday night.Standing behind the “Podium of Justice,” Sigma Chi brother Andrew Megison moderated the debate, offering the candidates four rounds of “heated questioning.” The debate began with an initial round of questioning for each of the tickets, followed by a shorter round of rebuttal.The first round was a series of opening statements, in which the candidates were allowed to welcome the crowd and present their campaign platforms.During the session, the candidates laid down the foundations of their platforms, usually relating the issues found on the push cards they have been distributing for the past two weeks.The first question Megison presented to the candidates was which University issue they felt was the most immediate concern to campus well-being.The answers varied from the obvious issue of the impending University budget cuts, to the accountability of student leaders, to concerns about student apathy.Because the debate was supposed to be reflective of Greek life, the second question of the round asked the candidates to discuss the most important problem facing the University’s Greek community.Though all the candidates agreed safety was paramount, there was disagreement between the candidates over the affordability of obtaining wireless for the houses.Both Sen. Andy Palermo, presidential candidate for the Next Level ticket, and Laura Boggs, vice presidential candidate for the One Voice ‘09 campaign, agreed addressing the wireless concern of Greeks was important.However, Jeffrey Noel, presidential candidate for the Make it Reign campaign, said he would not champion anything which would benefit a certain section of students at the expense of others.”Changing the image of the Greeks can probably change faster than wireless in the Greek houses,” Noel said.The third question of the round gave each candidate their opportunity to speak on budget cuts. While all participants agreed budget cuts were the most important issue facing the University, each responded to the question with their own party’s platform.The third round of questioning began following a five minute intermission in which candidates were asked questions by the audience.The audience asked questions regarding which parts of their platforms were feasible despite budget cuts, what made the tickets different and where the candidates stood on the possible allowance of concealed handguns on campus.The final question of the debate was one which has been asked each year since the Greek debate began — which line from the University Alma Mater was their favorite and why.After the questioning had ended, candidates were given a final chance to speak and to present their concluding statements.—-Contact Adam Duvernay at [email protected]