UCF Student Government candidates took to this stage Tuesday night to face off in an SGA hosted presidential debate, answering queations about their plans for office as well as the shocking events that took place early Monday morning.

“I think the first thing to say is that we are grateful for our first responders. Without them, today we could be having a candle light vigil instead of hosting a debate…” Presidential candidate Andy Green told KnightNews.com

Melissa Westbrook, an SGA Presidential Candidate, nearly teared up during the debate when the subject came up, since her sorority sister, who lived a few doors away from the gunman in tower 1, called her soon after the fire alarm sounded.

“To the kids in tower 1, my sentiments go out to them because we actually have people who are our friends and our personal friends who live within that tower and every time I think about it breaks my heart, knowing that my sorority and my friends lives on that level and lives next door to them–they would have walked out in that one moment and they would have been shot…” Westbrook said.

View the entire debate below: