The executive council candidates of Mississippi State University’s Student Association gathered to debate their opponents and deliver their personal platforms to students on Wednesday night. 
The debates started with the office of treasurer, secretary, and vice president and were  followed by a speech from the president elect who is running unopposed. Every candidate came prepared to answer questions regarding their office, as well as questions from the audience. 
The current SA President Roxanne Raven gave a welcoming speech before the debates began describing the job tasks of being on executive council, and the responsibilities each position holds. Raven let the audience know of the fiscal responsibilities by giving examples of things the current SA has accomplished.
“These positions deal with a $500,000 budget from student fees and from the state. So make sure you elect somebody you can trust with your money,” Raven said. “Some examples the Student Association has done this past year are making campus smoke free, making $20,000 accessible for green projects every year, and improving recreational equipment at the Sanderson.”
Johnny Douglas and Elizabeth Thomas were the first candidates to take the podium to debate for the office of treasurer. Each candidate discussed goals they wished to achieve given the opportunity to take office for the executive council. Douglas had the opportunity to voice his opinion first.
 “My goal is to have the budget help everyone on campus, even people who aren’t as active in student association,” Douglas said. 
Thomas, his opponent, had three main goals: to restore accountability, bring modern technology to the office, and initiate budget apps for cabinet members. 
With these ideas, Thomas said he believes there will not be as many miscommunications and mishaps as in the   past. 
The secretary position has five candidates running, however only two of those running could make it to the event: Stephanie Durr and Karlie Hughes. 
As stated by the mediator, the secretary position is the main source of communication between the SA and the student body. Both candidates spoke on how they would add more transparency to the position of secretary if elected. 
“I would like to incorporate organizations and other student groups in what we are doing, so when our cabinet is putting on events or trying to ask policies,” Hughes said. “I would like to reach out to the organizations and student groups that it is affecting.”
Durr said she had a different viewpoint, wanting to let more voices be heard throughout the student body, which to her seemed to be a reoccurring issue among students. Durr said she wants to implement biweekly newsletters to be emailed out to students so they are up to date on what the cabinet is doing, as well as legislations going to the senate floor.
Vice president candidates, Ann Sowell and William (Layton)  Little looked eager to share their platforms as they reached the podium. A question proposed by the audience about their campaign desires seemed to summarize the two candidate’s main concerns. 
“The most crucial part of my platform is definitely the communication point,” Sowell said. “I want to increase and better the communication between you students, and the SA [executive council].”. 
Differing from Sowell, Little said the most crucial piece to his platform was student health, specifically mental health.
“One of the things I want to do is put the suicide hotline number, counseling services number and police number on the back of your ID card, or front wherever they are allowed,” Little said. “That way if students are struggling in that moment they will always have their ID card on them.”
He went as far as asking the audience if they currently had their student ID on them, and said he felt his point was proven when majority raised their hand. 
Sowell said she was more qualified for the office of vice president than her opponent because she had a fresh new face, along with new ideas. Even though she has personally not been a senator for the student association, she can implement great leadership to the senate. 
Little, being a two-term senator for the SA, believed differently. He said the senate follows “Robert rules” and it is crucial that these rules are followed and implemented. 
“I know how to write legislation, I know how to write a resolution, and I know how to write a bill,” Little said. “ I can help senators that ya’ll heard earlier write these resolutions, and bills faster than waiting a whole semester to get a firm grasp on it.” 
Tyler McMurray, although running unopposed for the office of SA president still gave a speech on her platform and answered questions. Her speech started off with three words summarizing the focus of her platform: enrich, engage and empower.
McMurrary said enrichment is about making sure students’ needs are met. She continued to speak about the second point of her platform.
“My second point is engagement. I am so tired of the diversity and inclusion talks that we keep having, I think all of those words fall flat until we have something that truly backs it up with action,” McMurray said.
McMurray said with empowerment, she wants to make sure students truly understand and utilize the student association.
McMurray’s closing remark to the audience was, “hit me up,” followed by laughter from the audience and her reiterating her statement.
 “No seriously,” McMurray said. “There are so many things that I know you face every single day, that you may not think is significant but it is, hundreds of other students could feel the same way.”
Raven closed the debate from all candidates by encouraging students to vote on Tuesday, and said she is looking forward to see how all candidates will carry out their campaigns.