DARYL HOFMANN
News Writer

The second installment of the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union executive candidate forums was fairly uneventful.

The event was held in the high traffic area of upper Place Riel, which netted a decent crowd. Unfortunately, given the proximity of the construction, often speakers were competing with what sounded like a table saw. One passer-by, Shira Fenyes, said she stopped by because of the high visibility.

“It’s a good way to catch people’s attention,” she said.

Lone senate candidate Leon Thompson was the first to the podium and was very brief. With six spots on the senate open and the position’s relatively low profile, Thompson has few election concerns.

The next speaker was current VP operations and finance Scott Hitchings in his bid for president. He commented on the substantial increase in revenue the USSU will see once the Place Riel project is complete and all tenants are operational. He suggested re-allocating some of those funds back to students. The four candidates for VP student affairs garnered the most interesting questions at the even.

Some student lobbying duties have been added to the VP student affairs job, with the elimination of the VP external position. Since this will be an important election year, both provincially and, likely, federally, students wanted to know if the candidates — if elected — would be willing to partner with the USSU president in lobbying efforts.

All three student affairs candidates present at the forum — Leejay Schmidt, Alex Ferwerda and Justin Lasnier — said they would willingly team up with the president to pressure the government on external issues.

A secondary concern, with the province having already provided funding for the new College Quarter residences, was how candidates would push for prioritized housing within the provincial or federal governments. Ferwerda said that he wants to start an ad-hoc committee for the housing lobby but was vague on specifics.

Schmidt wanted to show all levels of government — federal, provincial and municipal — that funding residences can be profitable. The final candidate for VP student affairs, Lasnier, did not provide a clear answer to the question. All candidates were asked how they would increase student involvement in campus politics, since apathy is a widely acknowledged issue on campus.

Hitchings wisely pointed out that pizza always attracts people to events.

Ferwerda mentioned his central platform plan to put a couch in his office that will allow all students to come in and chat openly. Lasnier suggested that just being visible, shaking hands and establishing friendships with students around campus will increase involvement.

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Voting begins at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 30 and ends at 4:00 p.m Thursday, March 31.