The Ryerson Students’ Union election campaign heated up Thursday, when the candidates held a “stump the candidates” debate from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the second floor of The Hub cafeteria.

“Team Ryevolution,” headed by presidential candidate Abe Snobar, arrived looking like a team, wearing red t-shirts, airbrushed in black, with the names of the people on the slate on the back. Snobar’s t-shirt advertised him as “#1 Prez.”

Ryerson’s new chief returning officer, Paris Cameron-Gardos, was not happy to see the candidates sporting matching shirts, covering the microphone and telling Snobar that they were basically “breathing advertisements” and had not been approved by him.

The shirts were not the only issue that Cameron-Gardos had with Thursday’s debate. As the presidential candidates took their places at the microphones, audience members began cheering and cat-calling at the Ryevolution slate, which Cameron-Gardos put a quick stop to.

“Please leave your cheering and applause until the end,” Cameron-Gardos said. “It’s not fair to the slates that did not bring a crowd.”

At the debate, each candidate was permitted to introduce their platform for two minutes, and after candidates for each position had presented their platform, the audience was permitted to ask two questions, followed by a one minute response.

The presidential candidates, Chris Fortin, Muhammad Ali Jabbar and Abe Snobar were the first to speak at Thursday’s debate. All three emphasized their leadership roles in the Ryerson community and stated their reasons for running.

Emily Barker/ RyersOnline Staff

RSU presidential candidates, from left to right, Chris Fortin, Muhammad Ali Jabbar and Abe Snobar speak at the "Stump the Candidate" debate on Thursday.

“I’m running because I’m not pleased with what is perceived as a radical agenda,” said Fortin. “It has little or nothing to do with student life. The RSU should be a body focusing on student issues. ”

Fortin expressed concern about the number of returning candidates and the infighting in the RSU.

Fortin said,“Jabbar’s campaign is sold as a ‘renew’ campaign. The candidates have been around and have seen what it’s about.”

Former RSU president Jabbar was criticized at the debate for not having enough involvement in student politics this year.

Jabbar responded by saying that he had spent this year dedicating more time to his studies. Jabbar was quick, however, to talk about the things he had done in his time in office.

“I didn’t raise money for partying,” Jabbar said. “I raised money for tsunami relief and for hurricane relief.”

Snobar, the current vice-president of student life and events, concluded his speech by saying, “my name is Abe Snobar. I am a Ryevolutionary. Vote for Ryevolution, vote for change.”

Answering a voter question about how candidates present themselves during the campaign reflecting how they will be in office, vice-president of education incumbent Heather Kere said “I think we should work towards being mature in this election. All the things a person should be in a position are how they should be during the campaign.”

Elections for next year’s RSU executive, faculty representative and graduate executive positions will be held February 11, 12 and 13 with voting from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.