The Bakersfield College Student Government Association (BCSGA) held an Election Debate last week to present the candidates for our student government election coming up soon on April 6-9.

The event was kicked off by Wendy Cordova, advisor of BCSGA. She explained that the event’s purpose was to hear about the candidates’ platforms and goals, overall striving to meet and have productive dialogue with professionalism. It is urged that students become involved in the election process and events like this encourages that. “Information should be equitable,” said current BCSGA President Khalfani Mackey

Candidates opened by sharing their “why” for running, focusing largely on service and community. Mackey emphasized his role as a leader who supports rather than controls, explaining that his goal is to make student voices heard. “We rely heavily on what the students tell us,” he said.

Matthew Placecia, running for director of student organizations, narrowed his platform on strengthening existing student groups and increasing campus involvement. Inspired by seeing students overcome challenges using campus resources, Placecia said he hopes to build stronger communities by actively reaching out and asking, “How can I help?”

Zaina Jawad, a former senator, now running for Vice President, stressed the importance of making students feel heard. She described senators as a link between student government and the student body, and said she plans to support them by creating space for discussion, providing guidance and making sure students’ concerns are addressed.

Jason Warren, who is running for a senate position, spoke about his passion for supporting students through resources and community-building. Warren highlighted the need to keep students engaged on campus and encourage them to take advantage of the resources available to them. The main concern across the board was to get more student involvement.

A key point from this debate was the lack of involvement from students. For students like Alex Gonzales, this event made a difference.

“Getting to know the candidates, coming here helped me to put a name to a face and learn more about them and what their goals are,” he said.

With voting set to take place from April 6 through April 9 through Canvas, email, and in-person options, students will soon have the chance to decide who will represent their voices. Multiple senate positions remain open, making student participation more important than ever.