Representatives from nine different student organizations had the chance to question the candidates running for the Undergraduate Student Government president and vice-president positions last night.

The questions focused on how the candidates would communicate with other student organizations and how they would react to situations ranging from dealing with administration to corporate funding.

Commonwealth Council of Student Government President Gabe Bryant questioned the candidates about what they would do to help with relations with the other 19 commonwealth campuses.

One of Presidential Candidate Katelyn Belyus' goals if elected is to work for a rape awareness campaign as a mandatory program for all of Penn State's campuses.

Presidential Candidate Matt Rokita said he would like to make the transition easier for commonwealth campus students.

Rokita said, "All commonwealth campuses are significantly smaller than University Park. The transition could be a little scary."

Panhellenic President Bridget McCarthy asked the candidates how they would help relations between USG and the greek system.

Martin Austermuhle, co-founder of Students for Accountability and Reform, asked about the candidates' views on the importance of corporate sponsorship to the university.

Some candidates felt that corporate sponsorship is going too far but understand the need for it.

Presidential Candidate Justin Zartman said, "It's important to understand that some corporate sponsorship is needed."

Presidential Candidate Terry Burke said, "Penn State is more of a big business than a place of higher education."

Belyus agreed.

"We're not students, we're clients," Belyus said. "That's demeaning to me."

Presidential Candidate Robert Michaels said, "First thing I'd do as president, appoint a sorority and fraternity member to my cabinet."

Vice Presidential Candidate Amanda Hudnall said, "USG and greeks are two really powerful organizations on campus."

Hudnall said combining the two groups' efforts for different events would make more events such as the IFC/PHC Dance Marathon possible.

Chris Polley, treasurer of the Association of Residence Halls Students asked how the candidates would address and improve on campus safety issues.

Burke said the existing programs are often deemed boring and have low attendance and that he would work with ARHS to possibly make programs more enticing to students.

Vice Presidential Candidate Nathan Murphy said he wanted to install call boxes outside of the residence halls and extend the radius of the escort service.

Michaels' running mate, Claudia Lum, addressed dorm safety issues as well. Lum said that "enforcing a 24-hour lock down will only increase it to 24-hour long piggybacking."

Geoff Grivner, student member of the Penn State Board of Trustees, asked the candidates if they agreed with a tuition increase stemming from the university's budget expansion.

"Realistically, a tuition increase is always going to happen," said Vice Presidential Candidate Sushil Nanavati. "Finding other means of funding would be our primary goal."

Eddie Elizondo, outgoing University Park Allocations Committee (UPAC) chairman, asked how the candidates would respond to the reactions of others when a controversial event is funded by UPAC and many disagree with that event. Elizondo asked the candidates if they would they support the event.

Presidential Candidate John Linde said, "Minority viewpoints, although not necessarily your viewpoints, need to be heard."

Most tickets agreed that it is a question of free speech.

Zartman said, "It is no right of any other student group or student at the university to say 'this event can't go on because I don't agree with it.' "

Lum, who is originally from Cambridge, England said she came from a country that relatively has no freedom of speech and can relate to the importance of it.

Burke said, "I would definitely support the event. I'm sure they made their case to UPAC when they put their budget in."

Belyus said she also does not agree with censuring a group's opinion.

"Fight free speech with free speech," she said.

Belyus said if people do not agree with events, they can give their opinions.