The CU Independent moderates a debate between CU student government candidates on Nov. 11, 2025. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
With the Student Government elections underway at the University of Colorado Boulder, nine candidates participated in a debate on Tuesday for four legislative seats. The debate took place in the University Memorial Center Aspen room.
Incumbent and newcomer candidates debated topics ranging from student physical and mental health, sexual assault prevention and environmental impact at CU. Candidates shared common values and aspirations such as administrative transparency, increased student outreach and improved student-oriented program accessibility.
Candidates ran for the representative-at-large seats on CUSG, which represent the collective student body voice in all major campus programs. The debate was moderated by CU Independent Editor-in-Chief, Greta Kerkhoff and Managing Editor, Satori Griffith.
CUSG plays a critical role in student life at CU, as it controls 35 million dollars of student fees each year. The fees are allocated to campus facilities like the UMC, the Recreation Center and the Center for Student Involvement. CUSG also funds services such as Student Legal Services and KVCU: Radio 1190.
General Student Issues
Candidates were asked about what they consider to be the biggest issue on campus currently. Many said a lack of transparency in communication from CU administration, along with varying safety concerns and program accessibility.
“ I think transparency and communication are probably the biggest issues on campus right now, especially surrounding safety,” said Hadley Ahrens, a sophomore candidate. She described the CU Alert system saying, “Alerts come out and you don’t know if it’s a mountain lion or something that could affect you, like a shooter.”
Jacob Gallagher, a sophomore political science major, echoed a similar sentiment.
Current CUSG Treasurer and incumbent candidate Sophie Hoffmann cited previous legislation she worked on regarding campus safety, including snow cleanup protocols and mental health safety.
“When coming up with safety decisions for mental health or any type of safety, the students who are actually experiencing this should be the ones to have an input, not people who work here and haven’t been in this position in a number of years,” Hoffmann said.
Kai Gomeau, a junior majoring in English literature, said the biggest issue concerning students right now is the “lack of visibility” among CU resources.
“One of the big changes that I would like to bring to CU Student Government is revamping the way that students acquire information about all of these great programs that we have,” Gomeau said. “What use are all of these amazing things if no students know about them and no students can utilize them?”
Multiple candidates advocated for increased funding to CU NightRide, which provides free transportation for the CU community within Boulder city limits.
“I feel like putting more funding into NightRide would make it a more useful resource,” said sophomore political science major Cole Beatty. He described an incident on Oct. 31, where he was unable to get a ride through CU NightRide.
Student Physical and Mental Health
Candidates responded to how they believe they can help improve physical and mental health among students at CU. Candidates often highlighted programs while critiquing their accessibility.
Roshni Krishnan, a freshman candidate majoring in aerospace engineering, said CU has many resources for health and well-being that could continue to be highlighted by CUSG.
“I feel like student government can focus on [improving student health] by showing people where to go if they’re struggling mentally or physically,” Krishnan said.
Incumbent candidate Anthony Caruso said mental health services, like Counseling and Psychiatric Services, also known as CAPS, should be easier to access through modes such as apps or social media.
“You need to meet students where they’re at,” Caruso said. “If you have to go to five different places to find out information about CAPS or mental health services and you’re somebody who really needs help, I bet that your apathy is gonna hold you from those five clicks that you need to take to get help from CAPS.”
Freshman Addison Fink echoed the need for increased accessibility, highlighting the stark differences between resources in a high school environment and a college environment.
“Coming from high school, we’re so used to just being able to step into the counseling office and immediately have an appointment or just talking to a teacher,” Fink said. “Going from those small environments to such a big one, I think we can definitely do more to make these resources readily available.”
As the current CUSG Treasurer, Hoffmann said she is actively working on a bill to improve both the safety of all students on campus through equal representation.
Gallagher highlighted ways to improve students’ physical health through promoting sports clubs along with advocating for free Recreation Center exercise classes.
“Just getting out there, you build up your physical health while also building a community,” he said.
Ahrens said promoting the meal swipe donations to students with excess meals swipes could be beneficial for those living off campus to have access to healthy meals.
The CU Independent Editor-in-Chief Greta Kerkhoff (right) and Managing Editor Satori Griffith (left) moderate a debate between CU student government candidates on Nov. 11, 2025. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
Sexual Assault on Campus
In the last year, the university saw an increase in rape reports, rising from 36 to 96 incidents from 2023 to 2024, as referenced in the 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Candidates were asked what measures they would take to prevent sexual assault on campus.
Beatty, a transfer student from Metropolitan State University of Denver, suggested implementing “blue light” phones around campus. He said they were helpful at his prior institution by not only providing quick access to safety resources but also served as a deterrent to sexual offenders.
Ahrens and Fink agreed the phone could be useful, with Fink noting they were previously on campus. The phones were taken down in 2015, as they received more prank calls than actual reports. Both candidates agreed that parts of CU campus get extremely dark at night and advocated for well-lit areas to make students feel safer.
Caruso disagreed with this approach to sexual assault prevention, saying, “Rape is committed by people who know each other, usually at functions or parties or date rape. They are not in dark alleys. They’re not in unlit places.”
Caruso said the main way to prevent sexual assault is through education. He added that one way of spreading sexual assault education would be mandating registered student organizations to go through bystander training.
“You need to have those discussions outright and in person,” he said.
Gomeau noted that the majority of sexual assaults committed on campus take place in resident halls and described the importance of building relationships with resident advisors.
“We need to be more open and allow people to come forward with these issues that happen to them, without feeling like it’s their fault,” Gomeau said. “This all stems from the relationship between someone in power in your residence hall that you can go to immediately and ask for help.”
Campus Sustainability
When candidates were asked about how they plan to promote sustainability at CU, Krishnan responded by saying that CUSG should lobby at Boulder City Council to promote sustainability across campus and across the city.
“I really do think that environmental solutions and making our city and school is an important thing that we need to consider already,” she said.
Incumbent candidates Hoffmann and Caruso agreed that composting in dining halls could improve sustainability efforts at CU.
Hoffmann noted a trash cleanup event on the Hill, encouraging it to become a regular occurrence across campus. Fink said she participated in the Hill cleanup with friends and “would love to see more.”
Ahrens noted compostable to-go containers are used at SEEC Cafe as an alternative to reusable bowls. She said the containers are often trashed instead of composted, leading to excess waste, and suggested having reusable containers be primarily used with the to-go containers being provided upon request.
Voting for CUSG representative-at-large candidates is open until 5 p.m. on Friday. Access the voting forum through the Buff Portal.
Contact CU Independent News Editor Avery Clifton at Avery.Clifton@colorado.edu
