Mid-Friday morning, the president and vice presidential candidates for Student Government Association debated in front of an audience of students.

The Sunflower moderated the debate, which lasted nearly an hour.

Justin Dugan and Shannon Glover, president and vice presidential candidates for the “Common Challenge” campaign and Matt Conklin and Brandon Baltzell, president and vice presidential candidates for their campaign, Conklin Baltzell with the slogan “Empower Your Voice,” spoke in front of a crowd of about 20.

The debate began with opening statements from each party. Conklin and Baltzell began with theirs.

“Our campaign is focused on three pillars: service, advocacy and inclusion,” Conklin said. “Service is what we have done, advocacy is what we want to do, and inclusion is how we want to do it.”

Dugan and Glover then gave their opening statement.

“What we want to address as student government is changing organizational culture,” Glover said. “We want to align ourselves with Bardo’s strategic plan, and we want to meet students needs.”

The debate began with both parties answering questions about their plans for SGA, what changes they would make to SGA and how they would reach out to students.

Both parties had similar answers and shared the same goals for SGA.

They want SGA to be more present and transparent for students.

But when the parties were asked what they had to offer that the other candidates did not, the debated opened up.

Conklin and Baltzell were asked the question first. Both spoke about unique experiences.

Baltzell was the executive director for the ShockerThon fundraising event last year. He helped raise more than $57,000 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

“Through these experiences, I’ve been able to develop the community awareness and outreach skills that will help us communicate what we want to do with students on campus,” he said.

Conklin spoke about his three-year experience in SGA — two years as a senator and this past year as the treasurer.

Dugan and Glover’s high card was the diversity of their ticket.

“Shannon and I come from different backgrounds,” Dugan said. “We have the male, female and the Greek and non-Greek. And we have people who have helped with ShockerThon. I believe we have the same experiences.”

Glover then gave another argument.

“As a team, we are very different. We have different political views and differ on many issues,” Glover said. “But we work together well and have attracted quality people to our campaign.”

Later in the debate, they spoke about how their campaign would align SGA with President Bardo’s strategic plan.

Glover and Dugan want to have a specific plan.

“We want to develop an SGA strategic plan. Focusing on programming on campus, and putting support in areas that directly impact the students,” Glover said.

Baltzell responded to this idea.

“I think strategic planning is an admirable goal, but I think it’s also part of the function of student government. It shouldn’t be considered a policy item,” he said.

The debate was civil and candidates did not attack each other with personal insults or criticisms.

Both parties share many of the same goals, and all of the candidates know each other on a personal level.

Baltzell, Conklin and Dugan are all on the WSU Interfraternity Council and have worked together before.

“We like the other campaign,” Conklin said

Voting opens Monday and will last until Wednesday.