On March 18, the Vanderbilt Political Review hosted a VSG presidential candidate forum alongside Vanderbilt Student Government, the Vanderbilt Hustler, and the Multicultural Leadership Council. The first such forum held since March of 2024, it featured three tickets for president and vice president: juniors William Song and Manushree Navaneethakrishnan, sophomores Simran Fitzpatrick and Will Dean, and juniors Stella Rodriguez and Miguel Kamgaining Kamgaining.
The debate was opened by current VSG President Soham Saraf, who welcomed the attendees and noted the competitiveness of the race, stating that he was “very excited about having three different tickets that are bringing their insights to VSG.” Saraf went on to say that he had worked with all the candidates well at VSG, and that in his opinion, they were “equally qualified.”
Questions at the forum were then introduced by Vanderbilt Hustler Editor-in-Chief Jacob Stoebner, starting with a question about each ticket’s platforms. Song opened the discussion by emphasizing his campaign slogan of “streamlined, simple, nimble,” and framed the pillars of his platform around making Vanderbilt a home away from home, advocating for students, streamlining VSG, and improving quality of life. Fitzpatrick followed by laying out a platform focused on bridging the gap between students and administration, investing in the student experience, promoting free speech and advocacy, and increasing the connection between students and the Nashville community. Finally, Rodriguez closed the question by highlighting her platform priorities of increased transparency, representation for minority groups, improved community and campus life, and greater academic access and success.
Stoebner then invited each candidate to reflect on their prior VSG experience. Rodriguez began by emphasizing her three years in VSG, first serving as Cabinet first-year representative, then stepping into roles as secretary and co-director of active citizenship. Dean followed by pointing to his work as co-director of active citizenship, while Fitzpatrick outlined her time as Cabinet programming director. Navaneethakrishnan highlighted her two years with Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention, where she contributed first as a member and later as chair, in addition to a year serving as an MLC Senator. Song concluded by tracing his three years in the Senate, from freshman Senator to Deputy Speaker and, most recently, Speaker.
Turning to policy, Stoebner asked each candidate to weigh in on the proposed changes to the VSG Constitution, which the VSG Senate passed on March 17 and which voters will consider in a referendum alongside the presidential election. All three presidential candidates backed the effort to restructure VSG, though each underscored a different aspect of the reforms. Song pointed to the way the changes would streamline VSG, Fitzpatrick argued they would expand student-facing representation, and Rodriguez praised the class-based system and the empowerment the reforms would give committees.
VPR Editor-in-Chief Adam Hosein carried the discussion forward with a round of policy questions, where the candidates again found common ground. When asked about federal pressure on universities, all three agreed that VSG must reflect the will of the student body and vowed to keep working to gauge student opinion on major issues. Similarly, when asked about institutional neutrality, all of the candidates stressed the importance of fostering a diversity of viewpoints and ensuring that student voices remain heard.
MLC Vice President Sanjana Veerapaneni raised the question of how VSG can make campus more welcoming for underrepresented and culturally diverse students. In response, the candidates agreed on the need to cultivate a stronger sense of belonging on campus. They struck a similar note when asked about fostering cross-cultural collaboration, emphasizing VSG’s role in connecting student organizations and encouraging them to work together.
The forum moved towards a close with the audience submitting questions, beginning a question from Bird Club on sustainability. In response, Fitzpatrick voiced support for preserving the environmental committee, one of the groups slated for dissolution under the revised constitution. Rodriguez shifted the focus to collaboration, stressing the importance of partnering with other environmental organizations on campus to cut food waste. Song echoed that theme, emphasizing the value of working alongside campus groups on environmental efforts.
Further audience questions turned to support for LGBTQ students, an issue all of the candidates affirmed as a priority. Navaneethakrishnan emphasized the importance of recognizing the intersectionality of identity, while Rodriguez stressed the need to create safe spaces for students and celebrate individuals making a difference in the community. Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, argued that organizations should take a more proactive role in offering support rather than simply reacting when issues arise.
The final audience question asked candidates what was unique about their campaign. Most candidates used this question to reiterate their experience on VSG, while expressing support for current VSG initiatives, and pledging to continue to build upon them.
The forum was ended by Saraf, who praised the candidates for sustaining a constructive and respectful dialogue, especially at a moment when politics often seems to be drifting toward negativity. He then encouraged all students to exercise their right to vote.
Although this year’s candidate forum drew a smaller crowd than in previous years, a point both Hosein and Stoebner noted, those who attended still appeared to find it valuable. In a VPR exit poll conducted afterward, 56 percent of participants said the forum had shifted their views of the candidates, while 44 percent said their opinions remained unchanged. The same exit poll suggested an early edge for the Rodriguez-Kamgaining Kamgaining ticket, which 60 percent of respondents said they were most likely to support. By comparison, 30 percent favored the Song-Navaneethakrishnan ticket, and 10 percent backed the Fitzpatrick-Dean ticket. Still, the results offer only a limited snapshot and may not reflect the views of the broader student body.
Voting for both the presidential election and the constitutional referendum opens at 8 am on Monday March 23, and closes on Tuesday March 24, at 8 pm. To win, a candidate must secure a majority of the votes cast, and the constitutional referendum faces the same threshold for passage. If no presidential ticket clears that bar, the race will move to a runoff, a scenario VSG has not seen since the 2023 presidential election.
