Photo // Emmalee Anglemyer
DEBATE LOWDOWN. ADP fellows give a speech regarding the importance of the debate as well as using one’s right to vote.
By: Emmalee Anglemyer and Claire McKenna
Staff-Writers
The second presidential debate took place on Sept. 10 at 9 p.m., and the American Democracy Project hosted a campus-wide watch party, offering pizza, bingo (with prizes) and company for anyone who wished to attend. The event had a substantial turnout, boasting about 90 attendees. Before the debate itself, members of the ADP took the time to explain what one should expect from a presidential debate, as well as how to register to vote in the upcoming election.
The debate was the first, and only, between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Much of the debate consisted of conversation of policy and stance, and many topics were covered, including the economy, abortion, healthcare and conflicts between Russia and Ukraine as well as Israel and Hamas. The candidates also shot statements concerning character and credibility back and forth, keeping each other in check.
The students at the watch party were asked to give their opinion before the debate, during commercials and after the debate. One ADP member, James Schultz, said he believes that it is important to give students an opportunity to see each candidate speak for themselves.
Another student was interested in the backgrounds of the two candidates. “We are working with a convicted felon and we are working with a state attorney general,” Apollos Collins commented. “That’s an interesting concept when, in some states, felons can’t even vote, and we got a person running who can.”
Some students were just curious, like Dominic Lawrance.
“I’m seriously not into politics, but I am kind of curious what they’re going to say.”
There definitely were many feelings for this debate, but Joynae Ficklen summed it all up with one word: “hopeful.”
As the debate went to commercial, many students were very eager to keep watching. Schultz excitedly commented, “I’m glad to see that all these students care about voting, our election, who’s gonna be our president.”
Lawrance was left wanting more from the candidates.
“I just wish they’d talk about the topics at hand more, instead of fighting each other the entire time,” he said.
At the end of the night, students had a lot to say about each candidate’s closing statements and overall performance.
“It was one-sided,” Anette Flores concluded. “He didn’t make up anything, he was just going off of what she said.”
“He repeated the same thing over and over again, so it’s kind of hard to say if he debated anything,” Collins criticized. “It hasn’t changed my beliefs.”
Many other students felt this way, saying that their vote had stayed the same, but it was interesting to see the two candidates go head to head.
Collins stressed the importance of the election.
“Vote!” he urged. “Please do. We are at a critical time in the nation. So, it’s important to vote.”
The ADP also plans to host a Party to the Polls when voting opens up, so keep an eye out for more information! To ensure your voter registration is up to date, go to indianavoters.in.gov. The deadline to register for the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 7.
