Student apathy and lack of awareness of ASUA were the underlying issues the two remaining presidential candidates addressed last night - in front of about 15 people.

"I was happy that some students showed up and I was disappointed that others weren't there, but I'm optimistic that those that did show up will spread the word and get out and vote," candidate Julie Rice said. "I think the reason there weren't a lot of pe ople there was because it wasn't really publicized, and (the Associated Students) need to get the word out more with everything going on."

When asked what she would do about the issue of student apathy, candidate Rhonda Wilson said, "As student body president, I will actively go out to students and start going to different clubs' meetings."

Rice and Wilson answered questions asked by a four-person panel and students in the audience at the debate in the Arizona Ballroom, which was sponsored by ASUA.

Members of the panel included Bevin McArthur from the International Students' Association; Christine Thompson, director of the Arizona Students' Association; Brooke Coleman, chairman of the Big Event, an ASUA-sponsored philanthropy; and Mitzi Forbes from the Graduate and Professional Student Council.

Issues concerning tuition, the remodeling of the Student Union, the structure of ASUA, and each candidate's experiences with student government and other organizations around campus and the community were addressed.

The two candidates seemed to have similar feelings on a lot of the issues, with the exception of ASUA's structure.

Wilson said she thinks ASUA should do everything it can to remain a unified body so that its lobbying efforts can be more effective.

But Rice said, "If it comes down to two governments, and grad students want to leave, then that's their prerogative."

The issue of the ASUA/GPSC split is just one of the issues the president will address while in office.

Other issues include lobbying to the Arizona Board of Regents and the state legislature concerning tuition fees and the university's budget.

Rice and Wilson found out they would go on to the general elections after students' votes from Tuesday and Wednesday's primary elections were counted Wednesday night.

The general elections will be held Tuesday and Wednesday. Students can vote using their UA ID card at the Harvill Building, the Student Recreation Center, Park Student Center or in front of Old Chemistry on the UA Mall.