Undergraduate Student Government (USG) presidential and vice presidential candidates will be put head to head in the first executive debate tonight.

This is the first of two debates in the upcoming weeks where students will be able to learn about candidate platforms and, in turn, candidates will have the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of votes.

"The debates are a chance for the candidates to defend their platform statements and goals," David Gelpi, head elections commissioner, said. "While a candidate may look real nice on paper, it's an entirely different thing to get up there and defend their goals."

Today's formal debate will give executive candidates the chance to question each other and to discuss goals for the student body, Gelpi said.

The second debate will allow students the opportunity to question candidates.

"For the educated student looking to vote for the candidate they think will do the best job, the debates are extremely important," he said.

Executive candidates said they intend to use the debates as another campaign forum to reach students and advertise their goals.

"I think the biggest opportunity [the debates] provide is to speak about your platforms to other people in the student body," Kevin Ward, presidential candidate, said.

Pat Daley, a vice presidential candidate, said the debates give students the ability to see all of the candidates together and for students to get to know the people they're voting for.

"I think its great that every candidate has a chance to be more personable with voters," Daley said.

He said the debates are a more formal attempt to campaign.

"I think this gives us a chance to legitimize ourselves and for people to see how serious we are about this," Daley said.

Although the candidates prepare for the debates with the students in mind, previous years have shown little student participation.

The audience typically consists of students affiliated with a campaign, but Gelpi said students will have access to the information even if they decide not to attend the debates.

"I think that there will be a combination of students involved in campaigns and students interested in the elections," he said. "Information will spread even if there isn't large participation."

USG President Galen Foulke said he used past debates to rally his campaign team rather than to reach students because attendance was low.

"If [the debates] were better attended, they would be of the highest priority," he said.

Foulke said that in terms of campaigning, the debates are not as significant as other campaign methods.

"Campaigns are won and loss by how you get your message out, and that is done by going to the student body," he said. "Not asking them to come to you at the debate."

Ward said he hopes students will attend both of the debates, as well as other election events, such as the upcoming "Meet the Candidates" sessions on campus.

"It's only going to affect as many people that come," he said. "I'd hope that there's large student participation in both so they hear all the platforms and ideas."

All debates will take place at 7 p.m. in 100 Life Sciences. The second debate will occur March 27.