The six candidates running for the Student Leadership Council expressed their ideas and plans for the College of DuPage in a candidate forum March 10.

The candidates for the SLC elections are: Josh Clayton and Gloria Roark, who are running for student trustee; Joe Stahl and Dana Nuestro running for student president; and Miguel Hernandez and Denise Calma running for student vice president.

The forum started off with 45-second opening statements and then went into audience-generated questions, which candidates were given 90 seconds to answer.

Questions ranged from whether community college should be free to how candidates would help students at COD. Each candidate was given an opportunity to answer the questions and express his or her opinion on issues.

Clayton believes there is a “disconnect between the Board of Trustees and other parties.”

Stahl also expressed this sentiment.

“There is a clear dichotomy between those who are involved and who are not,” Stahl said.

All of the candidates expressed a want to get involved in the college community and encourage students to do the same.

Roark and Hernandez, in particular, mentioned minorities were a focus of their campaigns.

“I want to give all students a voice,” Roark said.

As for ideas to change COD, the forum offered the candidates a platform to express ideas that they hoped to come to fruition if elected.

Calma wanted to see clubs spread across the regional centers.

“I want to promote clubs through the regional centers,” Calma said.

Creating a community, was also a hot topic that candidates discussed and hoped for.

Nuestro stressed that if elected vice president she would aim to be a communicator for students.

“We are supposed to be the voice of our students,” Nuestro said.

Daniel Hernandez, who has no relation to Miguel Hernandez, the public relations officer for Latino Ethnic Awareness club and a student at COD, attended the forum to find out the ideas of the candidates he had seen on the posters in the hallways.

“It was pretty interesting seeing their point of views and knowing who they are not just their picture,” Hernandez said.

After hearing their point of views, Hernandez explained that he was impressed with the candidates.

“They were very prepared,” Hernandez said.

Elections will be held on March 17 and 18 via ChapLife. Students should check their student email accounts for information on how to access the ballot.