Becky Weihert doesn’t know who she’ll vote for. Rachel Diamond isn’t optimistic about the field. John Seglas still has to make his mind up too.

With just a week before the Feb. 18 city primary, many University of Wisconsin students had their first chance to hear mayoral candidates speak Tuesday night when the contenders made their only visit to campus.

Weihert and Diamond, both seniors, and Seglas, a recent graduate, were among the group of students who sat and took in the statements. A large population bloc right at the center of Madison’s isthmus, students are considered a crucial piece of the election puzzle by the six candidates.

But at the end of the day, Weihert, Diamond and Seglas were critical of the candidates’ performance — and largely unmoved.

Will Sandstrom had first crack at the student audience and was deft at provoking response. Primarily, Sandstrom spoke about his past experiences inside and outside of Madison.

“My daughter was here and she got accosted by someone,” Sandstrom said. “My son got smacked right in the puss on State Street, and the person that did it said, ‘Take that, Whitey.'”

“That didn’t make sense,” Weihert said. “State Street is a pretty calm place.”

“He’s a little loony, a little amusing, but I didn’t feel he made a point,” Weihert continued. “I can’t take him seriously.”

David Cieslewicz spoke next about his own experiences at the university and joked about a “long-range plan to tear down Humanities Hall.”

As a former student, Cieslewicz assured students he identified with them, saying, “Politicians are pandering to students. They think all they care about is drink specials.” Cieslewicz also said his environmental background did not mean he was anti-urban. “Good cities are good for the environment,” he said.

“He’s just trying to relate to students,” Diamond said. She expressed concerns about Cieslewicz focusing on all aspects of the city.

“It doesn’t look good to say that politicians are pandering to students and then pander to them,” said Seglas.

But Seglas was not entirely unimpressed by Cieslewicz. “I think he has a lot of good ideas, and he definitely looked like the most professional speaker,” he said.

Candidate Davy Mayer said he was campaigning primarily for students. “Your concerns are my concerns,” he said. “I’m campaigning on who I am.”

Mayer also said local City Council races may actually affect students more directly.

“I appreciate what he’s doing,” said Seglas later, “but I can’t give him my vote until he presents himself as a more serious candidate.”

“They need to be qualified,” agreed Weihert.

Former Mayor Paul Soglin also spoke on the “Disneyfication” of State Street and University Housing, pointing out that condos are being built at a high rate, while UW last built dorms in the 1960s. “I think most people would like more of a choice than the dorm rooms they have to choose from now,” he said.

Soglin also said the various alcohol issues on campus and downtown were due to societal attitudes about liquor.

“We need to change some of our attitudes about alcohol consumption,” he said.

“I wonder why he came back,” Weihert said. “I don’t know what’s important about this particular time in Madison.”

Student turnout at the event was lower than expected, most likely due to the weather and low publicity of the event. Yet for the students who came, the event gave some a closer look at who will sit in the highest office in their city.

Asked whether the event helped make up her mind, Weihert said she was still not sure.

“I have to do more research. I don’t know yet,” she said.

“It’ll come down to two, and I’ll just choose the lesser of two evils,” Diamond said, laughing.