This year the Student Senate at Calvin Colege broke new ground and set higher standards for its presidential elections, including the first-ever debate between two teams running for office.

Current Student Senate vice-president Paul Davis, secretary Paula Simoni and senator Michael Rodriguez were running for president, vice-president and secretary, respectively. They promised experience and vision.

Facing that trio was current senators So Young Han, Nunana Nyomi and Heather Smilde. They ran on an "Agents of Renewal" theme, promising energy, efficiency, and experience to get the job done.

Among their pre-election promises: adding an all-school formal and a campus radio station, and continuing work on extending open house and library hours.

Current Student Senate President Mary Horning thought the debate was a good way to discuss issues and to inform the student body. One of her goals this year has been coverage and exposure; she wanted no voter to be uninformed.

“I don’t want it (the election) to be a personality and popularity contest,” said Horning. “It’s about issues.”

In the past, the Student Senate has held a pizza party for the entire student body at Johnny’s. Each candidate stood up and said why the student body should vote for him or her.

“Friends clapped, enemies booed,” said Horning. “That was it.”

This year each team campaigned both on and off-campus, handing out coupons or bottles of water, and putting signs up in windows. There is no campaign fund – each team pays for their expenses independently.

“The stakes have gone up. They want to create a buzz on campus – events are to take over venues and audiences. The debate is to talk about issues,” said Horning.

The debate discussed open house hours, library hours, the wellness center, and the future student union.

Horning moderated the debate. She asked two questions about student-administration relations and executive team-senator relations.

“It’s going to be a little tough,” said Han. “You have to find that middle ground and compromise. I believe you can find a middle ground in anything.

Davis said: "We will not hesitate to compete. We are determined to let the students’ voice be heard.”

A Chimes representative asked how they planned on involving the students.

Han said that her team would like to use street teams. They would send out senators weekly to the dorms, apartments and dining halls to tell students what Student Senate is working on and to see what things students would like to have happen.

“It’s our job to come to you. We are to serve you,” said Han.

Davis said that his team would like to continue this year’s goal of coverage and exposure. They would like to use the media, especially Chimes, to their advantage.

The debate was then opened up the audience’s questions, which ranged from the candidate’s model U.S. president to their biggest fears.

Horning said that the student senate president should expect to work between 15 and 20 hours a week, for meetings, preparation, and office hours.

“I never anticipated being student body president. It’s shaped and molded me. It’s given me a lot of tools that I haven’t used yet but I know someday I will,” said Horning.

“It’s probably the most challenging position. It’s an inside track into how Calvin works. Once you’ve seen it you can’t go back. It’s for people who want to know how and why and people who want to inspire.”

Students voted last week and when the results were in a record 1,883 Calvin students had come to the polls. Elected were Paul Davis, Paula Simoni and Michael Rodriguez. New senators elected were Ben Bylsma, Kristen Coleman, Greg Collins, Austin Graff, Ben Houseward, Sean McGriff, Adeleye M Opejin, and Kara Shin.