Student Government Association candidates took to the stage Tuesday night to defend and expand on their top campaign points in a debate defined by a presidential candidate’s withdrawal from the race.

About 200 students gathered in the University Student Center Grand Ballroom at 8 p.m. to watch SGA presidential and vice presidential candidates respond to questions about their plans to tackle the student body’s top concerns, including free speech, University policy changes and tuition. SGA presidential and vice presidential candidates acknowledged students’ fears about President Donald Trump’s return to power and GW’s disciplinary procedures for student protesters and pledged to heighten student input on SGA and University decision making.

Molly St. Clair, The Hatchet’s student government editor, moderated the debate. Here are the highlights:

Vice Presidential Debate

Vice Presidential candidates Claire Avalos and Liz Stoddard defended the feasibility of their campaign pledges and discussed the SGA’s responsibility to garner input from diverse student groups and protect free speech on campus.

Avalos, a current Columbian College of Arts & Sciences undergraduate senator, said she would sit down with officials and “demand” they bring back the tuition lock program — which GW ended in 2019 — to reduce the financial burden of tuition on students. She said next academic year’s 3.5 percent increase in undergraduate tuition directly impacts low income and first generation students, inhibiting their ability to continue attending GW.

“There’s been a lot of rhetoric that SGA doesn’t have purview overseeing tuition, but honestly, I feel like there’s always room for hope and optimism,” Avalos said.

Both candidates said it’s crucial that the SGA remains politically aware during a time when Trump’s executive orders are targeting higher education. Stoddard, the current SGA Senate pro tempore, said the body can’t remain apolitical while representing students, as there are political forces threatening student’s rights at the federal level.

“When students are getting plucked off campuses, when students are being deported needlessly, it’s impossible to stay apolitical because that means you are not caring or doing your job,” Stoddard said.

While Avalos said it is difficult to advocate for students without being political — especially those who are undocumented and low income, who have been disproportionately targeted by federal orders in the Trump administration.

Avalos said she will work to create a SGA culture that is more “chill” by breaking down “internal conflicts.”

“I want to foster a culture where everyone is open,” Avalos said. “There’s no hierarchy between the vice president, senators and staff. I think, informed that we break down those barriers.” Avalos said.

Stoddard said while filling SGA Senate vacancies as pro tempore she increased the number of women and people of color in the SGA Senate by 10 percent. She said working on legislation, like the Survivors Bill of Rights, has helped her establish relationships with University officials, which she will leverage if elected vice president.

“I’ve engaged with admin on many different fronts, and I have that intimate experience, and I also have that relationship to keep that going,” Stoddard said. “I don’t need any training period.”

In her closing remarks, Avalos pledged to facilitate conversations between students and top University officials.

“I’m running to be your next vice president, not simply for the title but because I’m actually a person of the people,” Avalos said.

Stoddard reemphasized her track record over the past year of passing legislation on the SGA Senate floor and meeting with administrators to drive change for students.

“I’m not just promising to promise,” Stoddard said. “I’m promising because I have a background in actually putting my head down and getting it done.”

Presidential Debate

At the onset of the presidential portion of the debate, SGA presidential contender Dan Saleem announced the suspension of his campaign during his opening statement, citing “misinformation” and harassment against his team and loved ones.

“I’m dropping out because we’ve reached the point where misinformation and rumors have upended the lives of the people I love,” Saleem said in his opening statement.

Saleem and his campaign team exited the room following his announcement, prompting cheers from students in the audience.

The two remaining presidential candidates, juniors Emily-Anne Santiago and Ethan Lynne, discussed their plans to bring diverse student voices into SGA Senate meetings and press officials to address students’ financial, safety and free speech concerns.

As an outsider to the body, Santiago said she will fill her executive cabinet positions with “institutionalists” from diverse backgrounds who understand the SGA’s legislative process.

“This means making sure that the SGA is more inclusive toward all student voices, whether it be graduate students, latinos or underrepresented communities in general,” Santiago said.

Both presidential candidates pledged to advocate to University officials for expanded financial resources in the face of rising tuition costs over the next academic year. Lynne, who currently serves as SGA vice president, said he will direct student campaigns to boost scholarship funding for students and update the GWay site, a scholarship search portal for GW students, to make it easier to navigate and increase awareness of the resource to students.

“I have friends that have had to transfer out of this University because they can no longer afford it.” Lynne said. “​​We have students that cannot pay for textbooks, cannot pay for basic needs and with the university with a nearly $3 billion endowment, that doesn’t make sense to me.”

Santiago said she will demand the University bring back tuition-lock, which sets a fixed tuition rate for a period of time. GW phased out tuition lock for incoming students in fall 2020. Santiago said tuition lock is not within SGA purview but that will not deter her from her goals to “advocate” to University officials about the issue “every single day.”

“I can promise that despite not having a vote for many of these issues being outside the purview of the SGA, I will knock 365 times on the door of administration, and they would have to deny me 365 times,” Santiago said.

Both candidates spoke about the Trump administration’s crackdown on student protesters and international students on campuses across the country. Lynne said he will implement a “free speech team” within the SGA that would work with students, student organizations and officials to “find the best way” to protect free speech.

Lynne also said he will ask the University to conduct a full independent audit via a third-party about the University’s response to free speech activity on campus over the last three years.

“When it comes to free speech on campus over the past few years, that is something I think there’s a lot of movement to do right now,” Lynne said.

Both candidates emphasized the need to drive up engagement between SGA and the greater student body. Santiago said she will host “listening circles” to foster dialogue between the SGA and multicultural, greek life, political and other student organizations.

“As President, I would want to make sure that every student feels loved, seen and heard by SGA.” Santiago said. “We can do this through listening circles, in monthly listening circles for different organizations where I will be attending each and every single one”

In her closing statement Santiago said that three years ago, she could not have imagined having the privilege of running for SGA president. She said if elected, she wants to bring “autonomy” back to the students by listening to their concerns about dining, housing and tuition and incorporate diverse voices into every SGA decision.

“Now, three years in, I see so much potential for the University, potential for us to grow together and potential for any change to be lasting longer than I am at GW,” Santiago said.

Lynne wrapped up his remarks by citing his “powerful” relationships with University stakeholders across campus and accomplishments from term as vice president, which he said will allow him to continue driving change for students.

“I don’t think that I’m entitled to the president position,” Lynne said. “I do think, as I’ve said before, that I would be coming into this role with an incredible amount of momentum and people behind me.