Undergraduate Student Government candidates came under fire Friday at a debate hosted by the Young Democrats.
The group began their meeting by handing out USG bingo sheets that listed statements and gestures likely to be made during the debate.
Players marked the "Spent more than $500 on their signs" square when Ross Meyer said he and running mate Elizabeth Simonhoff spent about $1,100.
Richard Sales then said he spent about $2,500 on signs.
Sales' running mate and the other two presidential tickets did not attend the debate.
But all three candidates at the debate discussed how they planned to deal with President Michael Crow.
Meyer said he wants a positive relationship.
"I want to stand up for the students and make sure that I am advocating on behalf of their needs," Meyer said. "I really want to make sure I'm not saying, 'Hey it sucks, Crow. Everything you do I stand against.'"
Simonhoff said she was willing to stand up to Crow.
"I think he respects people who stand up to him," she said. "I think if we use the right approach we can get more feedback and have them be more receptive to what we have to say."
Sales said he stood up to Crow in the past and would continue to do so.
"I want to have a positive working relationship while having the backbone and the spine to fight for students," he said.
The rising cost of tuition also came up during the debate.
Sales said he fought for increased financial aid.
"I have done everything I could to work with students and not betray their trust, like some people sitting in this room," he added.
Bingo players then marked off their "Says something bad about Yaser or previous administration" squares.
Meyer said he planned to make a proposal that would include "grandfathering" tuition.
"The rate you pay when you start is the rate you pay when you finish," he said.
The room heated up when physics student Allan Massis raised his hand to ask a question.
"I was informed that Ross and Liz are not legally allowed to answer [Massis'] questions," said Joaquin Rios, president of the Young Democrats.
Massis brought forth a formal complaint against Meyer, Simonhoff and business senate candidate Justin Scorza on Feb. 23.
In the complaint, Massis asked for Scorza to be removed from the elections or sanctioned.
Massis said Scorza sent him a message on Facebook.com that he considered harassing. Massis said the message called him "truly insane."
He said it was in response to a list of general election questions he posted to a Facebook group promoting the Meyer-Simonhoff ticket.
Massis also said Meyer removed his postings from the Facebook group.
Reach the reporter at laura.graham@asu.edu.
