Limonthas, a write-in candidate currently at home in Texas on an off term, participated via Skype and cell phone methods that, at times, impeded the flow of the debate.
Moderators Brielle Milano '11 and Julius Bedford '12 asked the candidates four multifaceted questions related to topics of diversity, equity, community and empowerment before opening the discussion to the audience, which consisted of nearly 50 students.
When asked what they thought was the College's most pressing issue related to diversity and equity and how they would address the problem, all three presidential candidates identified recruitment and retention of minority faculty members as a major issue.
Yoeli suggested performing an internal audit of the College's advising structures in order to better support students from every background.
Sankar also spoke about the importance of minority faculty, and emphasized the importance of finding a permanent director for the Office of Pluralism and Leadership. She said that students need more supportive advisors, and that the dean of the College needs to have the "agency to act as a champion on behalf of different interests on campus" and needs to report directly to College President Jim Yong Kim.
Holekamp recommended expanding existing programs that encourage diversity and offering different groups on campus the opportunity to come to Student Assembly for additional funding.
When asked about current student dissatisfaction with Kim, Yoeli responded, "In his rush to implement all these administrative initiatives, he lost student opinion along the way."
Yoeli said he would focus on student outreach by proposing referendums and performing polls, and would try to better communicate student opinion voiced through those polls to the administration.
Limonthas called Kim "one of the most supportive and active presidents in the country" and said the dissatisfaction is a result of insufficient transparency.
"My job as your leader is to make sure the student body understands everything that's going on in Parkhurst," Limonthas said. "With a better understanding and increased transparency, students will feel more optimistic, empowered and valued."
Hix also spoke positively of Kim, but suggested creating more direct lines of communication between Kim and the dean of the College, and between other College committees.
Holekamp said that while Kim currently "has his hands tied" with budget cuts, Holekamp would tell Kim what students think, regardless of how Kim reacted.
Milano announced at the end of the debate that the candidates have been given eight questions to which they will submit written responses by Thursday morning. The ICC will email the responses out to campus once they have been submitted.
