The Associated Students, Inc. debates drew to a close on Thursday afternoon with a final showdown between presidential candidates Roberto Torres and Mirabella Garibay. John Rogan, also a candidate, did not attend the debate.

Though the crowd size was not the largest, supporters were their loudest, cheering wildly at the end of candidates’ remarks.

Even passersby got in the action: “Tell us how,” one young man walking by the candidates said as Torres promised to bring major changes in the coming year to Sacramento State.

“I have a plan for how we are going to strengthen your student voice, cultivate campus pride and expand involvement,” Torres said.

As president, Torres said he would create a student staff position for a community relations secretary, hired to deal with open communication among students, campus clubs and organizations, as well as outside businesses around the community at large.

He also said that ASI has relied mainly on student fees for too long as a fiscal resource and needs to look beyond the campus for fundraising opportunities by involving various student clubs and organizations with the community.

Garibay took issue with Torres’ plan and said the flaw was internal, not external. “We do not need to create more jobs within ASI,” Garibay said. She said that ASI first needed to unite.

Torres also questioned Garibay’s ability to lead, saying that she effectively had no experience in an executive position and said that students need a leader who is familiar with the inner workings of ASI and knows how to make the organization better by having a concise plan centered on academic excellence.

“I will be working with the administration and telling them, ‘Look, we’re good friends and all, but I think now’s the time that we have to focus on actually giving our students what they need – and that’s academic advising,” Torres said.

Grassroots involvement built by the students is what is most necessary, including conducting campus surveys to find out what issues ASI should prioritize, said Garibay. She said that she would like to have students voice their opinions.

Both candidates, while divided on issues, were civil and acknowledged each other’s ideas and opinions respectfully.

Whoever wins the election, Torres said, he has total faith in his and Garibay’s promise to do their best serving students.

“I don’t think any candidate here would say they’re not going to,” Torres said.

Julia Baum can be reached at [email protected].