Five of the eight student body president candidates attended the forum in Union 224.
After having two minutes to reiterate aspects of their platforms, the candidates fielded questions from Sangam members.
All five candidates stressed the importance of increasing campus unity by creating a collective voice for every student.
He noted that his idea for a "Campus Unity Day" -- a spring event featuring speakers and forums -- would promote campus cooperation. "I make it one of my goals ... to bring people together," Mason said. "I think if student government can get out and work with other groups, we can feel more unity."
Candidate Fred Hashagen said his past experience fighting institutional racism with the On the Wake of Emancipation Campaign last year highlighted his eagerness to work with minority groups.
"I think its a good example of my ability to fight for an issue," Hashagen said. "No, I haven't always taken the easiest issues to fight for on campus, but when I take on issues, I get results."
Candidate Jen Daum said student government needs to accurately inform the student body so it can effectively communicate concerns to administrators.
She specifically noted the recent $400, one-year tuition increase approved by the UNC Board of Trustees on Jan. 24 as an example of an issue groups need to be aware of. "I think we have done a poor job of communicating to the administration what we lose from tuition increases," Daum said. "Tuition is not the answer to our problems -- we need money from the state."
To illuminate his experience in working with minority groups on campus, candidate Brad Overcash cited his work in Student Congress, saying the experience made him capable of bringing together student organizations. "(UNC has) a lot of diversity, and what I did on Congress was see how that could be shown," he said.
McKinney said after the forum that he was thankful and proud to receive the Sangam endorsement.
"I respect the organization and what they do," he said. "We're all on the same page, and that's fantastic."
Sangam also endorsed senior class president and vice president candidates Paymon Rouhanifard and Robert Albright.
But senior class president candidates Chessa Huff and Dana Leventhal said they thought the process was biased after many Sangam members, including the moderator of the forum, entered the forum wearing buttons that showed support for Rouhanifard and Albright.
"We felt like we walked into a loaded forum," Leventhal said. "It was poorly organized, and the way it was done was unfair to a majority of us."
Sangam President Sachin Patel said he did not think the forum was unfair.
"I don't feel as though that was a problem at the forum," Patel said. "There was no one there standing up and saying 'I support Paymon' -- it wasn't that kind of aura."
Sangam also endorsed Graduate and Professional Student Federation president candidate Branson Page and Carolina Athletic Association president candidate Kris Willett.
Student body president candidates Correy Campbell, Nathan Katzin and Charlie Trakas did not attend.
The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.
