Stimulating conversation, political engagement and free food will be found at the second presidential debate watch party.
The watch party will be at 8:30 tonight and will feature the debate broadcast by CNN in DeHority Complex’s exhibition hall as a nonpartisan space.
In the smaller conference rooms, a moderator will facilitate discussion and will broadcast MSNBC, Fox News and C-SPAN for those who identify with a political group and want to engage in discussion.
John Lantz, the residence hall director at DeHority Complex, said in an email promoting the event that the idea behind the event is to help students watch the debate and become informed on the issues.
“We hope that it will prompt some discussion amongst you and your peers that allows you to express your thoughts in a clear, concise and respectful manner, and constructively demonstrate your societal rights and responsibilities and explore your own values,” Lantz said in the email.
Today’s presidential debate between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will be a town hall-style debate where audience members will ask the candidates questions.
Kayleigh Mohler, president of College Republicans, said her group might watch the debate together or attend the DeHority Complex event.
Mohler said she personally prefers the more traditional style of debate, and she hopes Romney will perform as he did in the previous debate.
“I think that President Obama is going to change his tone. I don’t believe he’ll be playing decent as much as he was during the first debate,” Mohler said. “I hope Gov. Romney stays the same and plays it cool and collects his thoughts and moves about things in a logical manner. I believe that is his leadership style.”
Drew Farrington, president of University Democrats, said his group also will likely watch the debate privately.
Farrington said the town hall-style debate allows for more personal responses and for the candidates to share how they will directly affect citizens’ lives.
“Barack Obama needs to go on the offensive in this debate,” Farrington said. “He will come out stronger. He had a poor debate performance, and he needs to be more of his old self, engaging, charismatic. He needs to go on the offensive more and call out Romney on his errors.”
The official watch party is co-sponsored by DeHority Complex in conjunction with the Office of Student Life as part of the events aimed at engaging students in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
Mitch Isaacs, associate director of Student Life, said the watch party is meant to be a location where students can gather and converse.
“Like our other events, I think it’s an opportunity to hear the issues, to consider what’s important in this election and to meet with other students and talk about those issues,” Isaacs said.
Students who attend can get free food and political prizes, like election posters and buttons. Students can also play Debate Bingo and cast their vote for which candidate won the debate at the end. The event is open to all students.
