University of Iowa President Sally Mason held a “fireside chat” at the President’s Residence Monday night with student leaders, in a conversation that ranged from the experience of international students on campus, to student tuition and Iowa City's 21-ordinance, which is up for a vote in today’s election.

Ben Gillig, the UI’s graduate and professional student body president, said the chats began last year to give undergraduate, graduate, and professional students an opportunity to meet with the president in an informal setting and talk about issues that matter to them.

“I think that these meetings provide a unique setting for students to get to know President Mason in a candid way,” says Katherine Valde, president of the UI Student Government and a political science major in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“With the intimate setting of a small group circled around the living room, students are able to ask about the issues at the forefront of their minds as well as have the opportunity to get to know President Mason as a person, not just the figurehead," Valde adds. "I think that everyone came away from last night with new insight and eager to host this same type of event again.”

Gillig, a doctoral student in the UI College of Education's Department of Educational Policy and Leadership, says student leaders plan to organize two more fireside chats this year.