The ASNMU vice  presidential and presidential debates will be at 6 p.m. Friday, March 29 in Jamrich 102.

With three candidates running for each position candidates and the voting committee said it is pivotal for students to attend in order to learn candidates’ goals and viewpoints.

“There are three candidates and they all have very different opinions on where NMU as a whole should go for the students,” said Chelsea Parrish, ASNMU director of public relations and off-campus representative. “Students aren’t going to know who to vote for. It shouldn’t just be a popularity contest, it should be based on what the candidates believe.”

The vice presidential debate will start at 6 p.m. and the presidential debate will start shortly after. There will be an open forum where students can ask questions and students can also submit debate questions through ASNMU’s Facebook or by emailing Parrish at [email protected].

“I think it is important for students to go because there are a lot of topics that address student issues on campus,” said Brandon Zanon, student affairs chairman and presidential candidate.

Zanon also said it is important for student organizations to attend the debate and ask questions that directly relate to their organization.

“Being that we are on a university campus and we are all here to educate ourselves, what form of higher education could you pursue that wouldn’t include informing yourself about who you are selecting to represent you as a student, as an individual, as a resident and as a member of this community,” said Amber Lopota, current vice president and presidential candidate.

Lopota said the decision is going to be made no matter what and if students don’t vote and aren’t informed their say in the matter will be thrown out.

“I think the debates are going to be pivotal because if we could see Jamrich 102 with all of those seats full on a Good Friday after the year ASNMU has had, you can’t tell me this isnt going to be a banner year,” Lopota said.

Abby Roche, current chairwoman of the assembly and vice presidential candidate, agrees with Lopota and said that students need to be informed about what our national government and our student government does.

“We have a voice, we are given this voice, why don’t we use it?” Roche said. “If students can show up to this debate, it would be awesome and I think it would carry on over to a really positive next year.”