USUSA Debate, 2025-26 Executive Council and Executive Leadership Board positions

With 10 hours left for Aggies to vote for the 2025-26 USUSA elected positions, candidates for Executive Council and the Executive Leadership Board debated at the TSC Hub to wrap up their campaigns. 

The Utah Statesman hosted the debate on Feb. 25 at 11:30 a.m., and it was broadcast live on Aggie Radio 92.3 KBLU-LP Logan and YouTube. 

Voting closes tonight Feb. 25 at 11:59 p.m. Students can change their vote until voting closes. Results will be announced tomorrow Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. in the TSC Hub. Check the Statesman website for results. 

Unopposed candidates Mia Bean for clubs & organizations executive director and Ben Burdette for athletics & campus recreation executive director answered questions without a rebuttal. 

“I think being able to build up the hype around other sporting events other than football and basketball is going to be something that I work really hard to do this next year as the HURD president,” Burdette said. “I plan very much to advocate and market for the women’s sporting events. They’re also our athletes, and we should show them the same amount of support that we do to everyone.”

Many of the questions for all of the candidates surrounded current legislation affecting higher education.

“When it comes to budget in general, what clubs need more than anything is someone who will advocate for them,” Bean said. “It’s hard for this representation, especially with these recent changes, so when it comes to the budget, specifically, I want to look at other sources of funding besides just the school.”

Brandon Sorensen was the only candidate running for student body president in attendance at the debate. 

“My number one priority would be to advocate for the resources that all the students have. I think there are so many, from the [Student] Money Management Center to health and mental and physical wellness resources that your tuition is actively paying for,” Sorensen said. 

Opposed candidate questions and answers, as well as the full debate, can be found at The Utah Statesman’s YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANtPRx6Bw8I&t=1s.