The second day of Associated Students candidate debates drew a noticeably larger crowd to the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union Courtyard on March 18, as students gathered to hear candidates for vice president of external relations and executive vice president make their case.

With a bigger turnout, candidates outlined their priorities and challenged one another on major campus issues. From debates over student housing to plans about boosting civic engagement, the discussion highlighted differences between the candidates’ approaches. 

The voting for the election will open on March 23 and close on March 26 at 7 p.m.

Vice President of External Relations

Jamie Quach, Celina Ramirez and Scarlett Walker are the candidates running for vice president of external relations. 

This position is responsible for maintaining relationships between A.S. and prominent individuals and organizations on campus, as well as serving as a liaison between students and government officials at the local and state levels.

Housing became the center of debate when Quach, a third-year psychology and criminal justice major, challenged Walker, a third-year political science and criminal justice major, on her campaign’s focus on the Evolve student housing project.

Walker claimed class sizes would be affected by the influx of students moving into new housing in the fall semester, which she said has “over 1,300 beds,” and that the project lacks transparency.

Quach immediately questioned this number and stated that only “800 beds” would be added in the upcoming semester, and also claimed that the university had promoted transparency through events where students can learn about the project.

The Evolve housing project is a multi-phase development project that will add “approximately 1,370 student beds” by 2027, although the specific number of beds added each semester is unclear on the project website.

Candidates also shared their plans for the Rock the Vote campaign, an A.S. initiative to increase civic engagement and voter turnout among SDSU students.

Ramirez, a second-year history major, said she would “use the Rock the Vote campaign to highlight the diverse voter identities that exist: Out-of-state students, international students, undocumented students and students from mixed-status families who may not feel safe or secure voting in such an uncertain political climate.”

Walker said that she would make sure students know how to get their ballots and where to vote on campus, and Quach highlighted the importance of the initiative in getting students civically engaged.

Executive Vice President

The race for executive vice president includes Andy Jose Lopez, Chloe Beseke, Jacie Foster and Jasmine Vu.

Andy Jose Lopez, Chloe Beseke and Jacie Foster (left to right) debate each other in their race for Associated Students executive vice president at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union Courtyard on March 18, 2026. (Sean Monney)

This position chairs the Campus Life Council and handles internal affairs within A.S.

Beseke and Foster both spoke on increasing registered student organization involvement within A.S.

Foster said she would do this by “making sure Student Diversity Commission representative roles are filled from cultural RSOs and cultural centers.”

 

Beseke also said she plans on implementing office hours as a way for students to speak directly to her. 

Foster pointed out that the current executive vice president and fellow YOUnifySDSU slate member, Milan Rawls, ran on this campaign last year, and plans on implementing office hours “as of this month.” 

Beseke responded, “I plan on implementing those on day one when I’m in office, not waiting until the end of my term.”

Lopez, a public administration graduate student, said he plans on connecting with underrepresented communities on campus, which he said he is a part of, both as a formerly incarcerated person and someone with an invisible disability.

He said he’s been pushing an initiative for the last three years to help “identify people with an invisible disability.”

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard, which Lopez wore at the debate, is a global symbol for non-apparent disabilities. 

Vu, the fourth candidate, was not present at the debate.

Debates will wrap up with the presidential candidates on March 19 at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union Courtyard at 12 p.m.