Hundreds of students representing Binghamton University housing communities filled the Mandela Room for Sweeps on Tuesday night.

Sweeps allows each housing community to hear Student Association (SA) E-board candidates’ platforms and question them before releasing their endorsements to the student body.

College-in-the-Woods endorsed Raaga Rajagopala, Kate Tashman, Adam Wilkes, Jermel McClure Jr. and Max Maurice, and abstained from endorsing a presidential candidate.

Hinman endorsed Nicholas Ferrara, Serena Tesler, Jermel McClure Jr. and Max Maurice, and abstained from endorsing EVP and VPAA candidates.

Off Campus College Council (OC3), Hillside and Mountainview endorsed Nicholas Ferrara, Raaga Rajagopala, Kate Tashman, Adam Wilkes, Jermel McClure Jr. and Max Maurice.

Dickinson endorsed Nicholas Ferrara, Kate Tashman, Adam Wilkes and Max Maurice, and abstained from endorsing EVP and VPMA candidates.

Newing endorsed Nicholas Ferrara, Kate Tashman, Adam Wilkes, Jermel McClure Jr. and Max Maurice, and abstained from endorsing an EVP candidate.

Susquehanna endorsed Nicholas Ferrara, Raaga Rajagopala and Jermel McClure Jr., and abstained from endorsing VPF, VPAA and VPP candidates.

Candidates for each position were given three minutes to speak, followed by a 15-minute question and answer period. The evening started with Vice President for Programming (VPP), followed by Vice President for Multicultural Affairs (VPMA), Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), Vice President for Finance (VPF), Executive Vice President (EVP) and finally, President.

Max Maurice, who is running for VPP unopposed, began his pitch by leveling with the audience.

“My platform isn’t really that sexy,” said Maurice, a junior majoring in electrical engineering. “But it’s much needed by the SAPB.”

Unopposed VPMA candidate Jermel McClure, Jr. shared his platform for building an inclusive, collaborative and united campus. He said that improving relationships with administrators is a priority, something he believes is a required role for the SA E-board.

Hinman College representatives pressed McClure on how he would help students who may feel unsafe in the current campus climate. McClure said that by making himself open and available, he would be supportive and receptive to students.

“If there is transparency, students will at least feel comfortable coming to me,” McClure said. “We can work out what is making them feel unsafe.”

Ruslan Klafehn, a candidate for SA president and the current VPMA, said he faced pushback when approaching student groups on campus with suggestions for change. Klafehn asked McClure how he would handle adversity from student groups.

“With all due respect, Mr. Ruslan, I think it’s important to have relationships with people in the organizations before asking them to make changes,” McClure said. “When change is on the table after relationships have already been developed, then changes can be established.”

Adam Wilkes, a sophomore double-majoring in economics and philosophy, politics and law who is running unopposed for VPAA, shared his platform for sustainable programs. He stressed advocating for students to the administration, and making sure that concerns are addressed.

“Right now, you have absolutely no power with the administration,” Wilkes said. “It’s really hard to make your voice heard. I want to turn the VPAA office into the primary resource at the Student Association to make student voices heard.”

Kate Tashman, a junior double-majoring in biomedical engineering and mathematics, and Serena Tesler, a junior double-majoring in biology and philosophy, politics and law, are both running for VPF.

Tashman, the current VPF, skipped over her qualifications and discussed initiatives she has implemented this year, such as the tiered payroll system for OCCT bus drivers. Tashman stressed that as the SA moves toward incorporation, her experience would help create smooth transitions.

“I’m running for next year for sustainability and consistency,” Tashman said. “I ended up being more well-versed in the Student Association financial policies than she was. It makes everything moving into next year a lot easier.”

Tesler said there was a need for reform in the SA office, and that she gained relevant experience for the job acting as history club treasurer and working on FinCo.

“My diverse financial experience will help maintain uniformity through the SA,” Tesler said. “My platform will allow for the much-needed change of the Student Association in helping student needs.”

Candidates Raaga Rajagopala and Justin Santabarbara are both running for EVP. Rajagopala, a sophomore double-majoring in economics and French, began with her plan to move the intent-to-charter process online to increase efficiency.

“This would not only save time, money, the environment — it would also be a great way to make change a reality,” she said.

Santabarbara, a junior majoring in political science, discussed plans to implement a volunteering fund to reimburse student groups for costs of going out into the community. He also stressed the importance of limiting the adjustment when the new E-board takes office next year.

“It’s important that we focus on hitting the ground running,” he said, “and making sure that there’s as little of a learning curve as possible.”

Three candidates — Nicholas Ferrara, Ruslan Klafehn and Adina Matos — are all running for SA president. They shared their platforms, with Klafehn stressing off-campus safety, Ferrara discussing productivity and Matos communicating the importance of transparency.

“It’s a boys’ club, let’s be real,” Matos said. “We need new ideas and new diversity.”

Students asked the candidates what their biggest weaknesses are. Ferrara and Matos both cited being transfer students and having less time on campus, and Matos also addressed experience in the SA office. Klafehn said that his age was his greatest weakness.

The debate lasted for over two hours, and housing communities then went to discuss their endorsement choice.