The UI Student Government unanimously passed a bill Tuesday night calling for an endorsement of the student candidates running for Iowa City City Council and an open forum for the council hopefuls.

Under the bill, UISG will host a public forum in hopes of getting more UI students to vote in November’s City Council election.

“We want a UI student there, polling for the students,” said Kyle Schwarz, one of the senators who introduced the bill.

The forum’s primary purpose will be to offer an opportunity for UI students to better understand the three UI candidates and other local issues, he said, and students should be able to voice their concerns to candidates.

Concerns arose during the meeting from other senators about exclusively hosting the event for only the student candidates.

The Senate decided to invite all five of the candidates, noting it would benefit both the students campaigning and potential student voters.

“It’s our city, too,” Schwarz said. “It’s important that not just residents get to voice their opinions; the students need a voice, too.”

UISG City Council liaison Jeff Shipley, a UI senior, is a candidate in the council race. UI students Dan Tallon and Jared Bazzell are also running for spots on the council.

Whitney Carson, who cowrote the bill, is in a relationship with Shipley, she said. She doesn’t think there’s any conflict of interest on her part, because, she said, she’d offer support for any student running.

Schwarz said a student representative on the council is necessary to advance the interests of UI students.

In a statement from Shipley read at the meeting, he said he has continually interacted with the City Council, but most of the ideas he proposed garnered little to no interest from the councilors.

“It is imperative that students become involved,” Shipley said. “UI Student Government needs to do whatever it can to get out the vote.”

The forum is expected to be hosted before the primary election, which is scheduled for Oct. 6.

No location has been determined, but senators said it may be a conflict of interest to host the event on campus. Instead, they suggested the Iowa City Public Library as a possible location because of its proximity to campus.

Senators also presented legislation on a proposed United States Public Service Academy Resolution.

The school would function as preparation for students wanting to enter into public service after graduation but who can’t because of student-loan debt.

The legislation called for letters of endorsement from UISG President Michael Currie stating UI support for the proposed school.

The Senate tabled the proposal because of a lack of information on the school.

All of the new member nominations presented by the Nominations Committee were passed. The senate also passed the Supplemental Funding Bill for allocation of money to smaller student organizations.