With all the props aside and the issues at the forefront, the Undergraduate Student Government presidential and vice presidential candidates centered their attentions on each others' platforms at last night's second USG debate.

The ticket of Mike King and Lori Pennay drew the most fire from the other candidates. During the opening statements USG presidential candidate and former USG Academic Assembly President Erich May called King and Pennay's platform neither "honest nor realistic."

May cited issues on the King/Pennay platform, including their proposed food court and the $35 computer fee, as areas he feels King and Pennay have not done the research they say they have.

Because the location where King and Pennay propose to place a food counter in the HUB is an area equal to "about the size of an elevator chute," May said, it's not a realistic idea.

King, USG Senate president, and Pennay (junior-speech communication) also drew criticism from May and USG presidential candidate and Latino Caucus President Carina Defferrire during the crossfire.

May was the first to question King on why he had not addressed the four weekend assaults at the senate meeting Tuesday night. Last weekend, four assaults and one attempted assault occurred during a 49-hour period on campus.

"Well Erich, there are certain times when you need to prioritize," King said. "Now if I don't get out there and bust my ass to campaign and let people know what we're all about, I'm not going to be around next year to do much of anything."

Defferrire immediately followed up May's question by asking King if he believes campaigning is more important than the students that were attacked.

The answer does not lie in Senate meetings, King said, adding that it is the behind the scenes work that the Senate does that matters.

After the debate USG vice presidential candidate April Campbell (junior-Spanish) said she was upset with King's response to May's and Defferrire's questions.

"If he feels that the students aren't a priority right now while he has an obligation to the students, when he gets another obligation to the students, is he going to blow them off again?" Campbell asked.

Following the debate, King said he was not bothered by the amount of questions he and Pennay had to answer.

"We're glad to see our platform has generated the most interest," King said.

The candidates also fielded questions from the audience on the proposed student activity fee, which was proposed by the Executive Student Action Council last Fall Semester. Many candidates disagree with implementing a student activity fee, but added that students should have the final say.

"We definitely don't agree with the student activity fee," said USG presidential candidate Matt Thomas (senior-journalism and English). He added that the lack of visible results from USG do not warrant additional funds.