With a week left until the election, President George W. Bushand Sen. John Kerry spoke at Ball State Tuesday evening. Well, notthe actual candidates, instead political science professors GaryCrawley, in a Kerry mask, and Raymond Scheele, in a Bush mask,participated in a mock debate that chronicled the events of thepresidential race.
Each read from journal entries dating from primaries up untilthe latest poll results. The professors responded to questionsaccording to the candidates reactions in the news. Crawley saidthey have participated in this type of debate since 1996 and varythe format for each election. He said they attempt to keep thestyle informal, but informative.
"We want to stimulate those who have not been involved andreinforce interest to informed students," Crawley said.
Each described their response to the 527 and Swift Boat campaignadvertisements, and what the candidates need to do to win theelection. The professors drew laughs from the students byreflecting on some lighthearted moments of the campaign, likeBush's debate scowl and Kerry's duck hunting last week.
Freshman Ngofeen Mputubwele said this type of forum wasbeneficial because the participating professors are knowledgeableabout the subject.
"It's good because you can't actually talk to the candidates,"Mputubwele said. " With this, you get to ask the questions that youthink are important."
He said the professors' comments and explanations offeredinsight into the candidates' policies, rather than just focusing onthe campaign. Although he is not old enough to vote, Mputubwelesaid he hopes events like the mock debate will encourage studentsto become interested in politics.
Women's studies director and professor Kim Jones-Owen suggestedher students attend the program as well.
Lauren Eison, a sophomore in the program, said she keeps up withthe debates and she hopes that those who attended are more informedabout the candidates.
"If the students who came really listened, I think this is agood educational tool," Eison said.
Heather Copeland, 21-year-old junior, said she watches CNN allthe time and pays close attention to the campaign. She said she'sglad the university is addressing the election and catering tofreshmen. This event was part of the university's FreshmanConnections, which offers programs to freshman for credit and otherincentives.
"This event is important to the incoming freshmen because manyof them are just recently becoming old enough to vote," Copelandsaid.
Jones-Owen said she told her students about the program to showhow decisions made by the next president affect not only policies,but their body as well, on issues such as abortion. She said thisprogram underscores the significance of voting and the decisionsthe candidates will make.
"The personal is political and the political is personal,"Jones-Owen said. "Voting is not removed or remote, who we put inoffice is of the utmost importance."
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