Josh Curran/The Ubyssey

“I totally agree with what everyone said.”

That was a refrain in the student Senate debates Friday afternoon. As the field thinned in recent days to just six candidates competing for five spots, hopefuls often highlighted their similarities in hopes of not placing last.

“It’s good to see how connected we are on these issues,” said Montana Hunter, one of the candidates. “It’s a wonderful thing.”

One issue that struck a chord was increasing access to dual degrees, which was championed by Hunter, incumbent senator Justin Yang and Katherine Tyson.

Another contested point was modifying the exam process. Ideas brought up by candidates included creating a centralized database of past exams, to help students prepare and professors adjust methodology.

Despite agreement on most topics, some senate candidates differed on how to approach them. When the issue of non-academic misconduct was raised by the debate moderator, most people agreed that the community model proposed in newer policies was preferable to the Presidents’ Committee that used to handle the issues. However, there was disagreement on the role of the university off campus. Tyson had mixed feelings on the policy, and wanted to ensure the university jurisdiction only applied to the campus, as did Mahal.

“They don’t [for example] want to judge what you do if you take part in a protest,” said Tyson. “I want to make sure they don’t overstep their boundaries into the personal lives of students.”

Dawei Ji agreed about limiting the reach of the institution. “I do a lot of things out of school, and that’s my business,” he said.

Yang, the race’s only incumbent, highlighted how the issue could connect to the goals of broad-based admissions. “What we are looking for is holistic students,” he said. “A campus community of active leaders and engaged scholars-in-training.”

All were concerned with having policies pass through a notoriously slow-moving Senate.

“A clear plan for what you want to get accomplished…is very important,” Mahal said, and all candidates outlined experience using hard approaches and more soft, collaborative strategies in the past. Only Ji indicated that he prioritized the rough side. “I’m more of a bad cop,” he said. Caro noted it was important to work with more experienced faculty senators and get cooperation.

With Malileh Noghrekar and Devin Syrovatka having withdrawn, the field has become more competitive. Yang, Mahal, and Hunter all emphasized the ability to make Senate more relevant, and Caro noted that it was important to have a range of perspective.

But given that most of the field will work together in office, their views seemed similar. “What we need is new blood. We need everybody to work together,” Ji said.

“That would have a dramatic impact for a lot of students.”

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