The candidates for the upcoming Undergraduate Student Government (USG) presidential election, Enzo Kho ’26, current USG social chair, and Uma Fox ’26, current USG treasurer, participated in a candidates’ debate hosted by the American Whig-Cliosophic Society (Whig-Clio) and The Daily Princetonian. Candidates discussed inclusion on campus, academic reforms, and disciplinary process changes, finding common ground on many issues — though their views diverged regarding the prospects for a campus pub.
An exit poll conducted following the debate found that the audience members in attendance overwhelmingly planned to back Fox and that academic reforms and fiscal management were their top priorities.
Kho is an international student from the Philippines and a student in the sociology department, and Fox is a history major from Silver Spring, Md.
The debate was moderated by Khoa Sands ’26, the president of the Whig-Clio Senate, Lia Opperman ’25, the director of outreach for the ‘Prince,’ and Victoria Davies ’27, an assistant News editor for the ‘Prince.’
The debate began with opening speeches from the two candidates. Kho and Fox discussed their past experiences in USG and outlined their ideas for the future. Both candidates emphasized their desire to help students feel a sense of belonging on campus.
Kho pointed to his work revamping Lawnparties during his time as social chair and his efforts to create TigerTies, a multicultural international festival which occurred for the first time this year. Looking forward, he emphasized his desire to collaborate with different offices to enhance student life.
Fox shared her goal of ensuring that students feel supported in her introduction. She described her past USG work, including managing Lawnparties, working one-on-one with affinity and student group leaders, and handling the finances of USG. Fox remarked that “equity, well being, and community are key” to her work.
Throughout the debate, both candidates emphasized the importance of transparency. Fox focused on the importance of improving how USG representatives communicate with the University and involving affinity groups in USG meetings to ensure that a variety of student voices are heard.
“Many events of last semester show that there’s still distrust and a need for greater communication and transparency and sometimes for us also to take a more active role in directly representing student trust and bringing students directly into meeting spaces,” Fox said.
Kho discussed the importance of open communication, the inclusion of student perspectives, and representation throughout USG. He explained that he would recommend “going back to the constitution … and outlin[ing] the work that we’re going to do.”
“It’s going to be a big change. We’re going to have everyone’s voices heard in the community,” he said.
This emphasis on transparency continued to discussions surrounding student disciplinary processes. When asked about recent disciplinary reforms, such as the changes to protest guidelines this spring and the introduction of the suspension (not served) policy, Kho cited a need for a clear and uniform disciplinary process.
“There’s a lack of meetings that happen so everyone’s not all on the same page,” Kho said. “There needs to be more consistency with how to go about this.”
Fox noted that the University should use impartial fact-finders when undergoing disciplinary action. She added that she will seek updates on the University’s new suspension (not served) policies as its role in disciplinary action develops.
“There’s more work to be done, particularly on due process and about making sure that we have meaningful and transparent hearings in the disciplinary process,” Fox said.
The candidates also discussed how to help students navigate recent changes to academic policy, including those to Dean’s Date and the upcoming changes to passing periods.
In exit polling conducted by the ‘Prince,’ students in attendance identified academic reforms as a top priority in choosing a USG president.
Fox emphasized her prioritization of academic advising and University communication.
“Too often people get an academic adviser that doesn’t reflect their needs, and so they’re not able to get tailored information,” Fox said, referring to the faculty adviser that undergraduates are assigned in their first year. “There’s also not consistent academic advising training frequently for academic advisors. A big priority of mine is to fix this so there’s less confusion.”
Kho, on the other hand, focused on the need for transparency between students and the University. “We need to have strong relationships with different partners around campus — one is [the Office of the Dean of the College] — in order to make sure that people know how Dean’s Date restructuring would influence their experiences,” he said.
The candidates also discussed the role of eating clubs in campus life following the release of a report evaluating “how housing and dining impact the student experience.”
“It’s really important that we make opportunities for people to still be able to connect over food,” Fox said.
“I believe that dining is one of the things that actually builds community on campus,” Kho similarly said. Both candidates also discussed the benefits of giving upperclass students dining points and late meal swipes.
After the moderated discussion, members of the audience were invited to ask questions of the candidates through an online form.
When posed a question by the audience on maintaining strong relationships between eating clubs and the University, both candidates outlined a plan to bring the administration and the Inter-Club Council together to work out issues and disagreements in upcoming meetings.
In response to a question about how the candidates would represent the student body’s voice to the University administration, Fox said that she would aim to bring the priorities and opinions of students directly to administrators.
“We often see USG just as a space for one person to go and have dinner with [Vice President for Campus Life W. Rochelle] Calhoun or President [Christopher] Eisgruber [’83]. I see more opportunities for all of us to get together and create consistent channels for communication,” Fox explained.
Kho focused on his plans to revitalize a defunct USG Communications Committee. According to Kho, the Communications Committee — though explicitly outlined in the USG Constitution — has not existed for two years.
“We’re going to go get genuine student data and that will be led by the Communications Committee, with a strong data team,” Kho said.
The candidates’ views differed most dramatically when it came to the topic of the campus pub, an idea that has been repeatedly proposed for several administrations of USG.
Kho thought the idea was unfeasible and less relevant than other issues.
“Right now, because of the lack of communication about it, the lack of transparency, and the lack of updates of where we are at, I don’t think there’s productivity in terms of continuing this matter,” Kho said.
Fox disagreed and said that there is a possibility that the campus pub comes to fruition. With the move of McCosh Health Center to Frist Health Center in the coming years, Fox suggested that “we now have this open space that can be utilized by student affinity spaces and as a campus pub.”
Last year, at the vice-presidential candidates’ debate, also hosted by Whig-Clio and The Daily Princetonian, eventual winner Srista Tripathi ’25 agreed with opponent Chase Magnano ’25 that a pub should be established. The third candidate, Warren Shepherd ’27, expressed more caution at the proposal.
Across the length of the debate, Kho and Fox did not propose vastly different visions for their potential tenures, with the exception of questions regarding the campus pub. It would appear that debate attendees agreed with Fox’s view on establishing such a watering hole and her overall candidacy; a ‘Prince’ exit poll revealed that 85 percent of those who filled out the poll would vote for Fox, providing that the election was held today.
The ‘Prince’s exit poll also asked attendees about the four referenda on the ballot this winter. The exit poll found that all four were overwhelmingly popular among respondents, with over 70 percent indicating that they would vote for each proposal.
This year, the USG Winter elections voting will open on Monday, Nov. 25, at 12 p.m. All USG positions will be up for election. The candidate platforms can be found here.
Nico David-Fox is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ He not related to USG candidate Fox.
Laila Hartman-Sigall is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
Jasin Cekinmez contributed Data reporting.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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