The excitement surrounding the vice presidential debate this past week climaxed as many students chose to attend viewing parties of the vice presidential debates.
Across campus, students felt that Sen. Biden had won the debate.
“I think that Biden’s coming off really well, using a lot of logic and evidence,” freshman Brook McKeown said during the debate. “Palin just seems to be avoiding questions and changing the subject when Biden has her in a corner.”
McKeown was one of about fifty students to watch the debate in Graham Chapel, where she enjoyed the small crowd.
“I think it’s nice in Graham Chapel because you can focus on what’s going on because it’s a relatively quiet space,” she said. “But at the same time [I] feel comfortable commenting.”
Others felt unsettled by the emptiness.
“Lots of my friends didn’t know this was an opportunity or that you could get tickets. It would be much better if there were more people here, “ Natalia Lamberova said.
As television commentators offered their opinion on the debate’s results after the event, students cheered when pundits favored Biden. When experts suggested that Palin won or tied Biden, the chapel was silent.
Students were grateful for the opportunity to see both candidates appearing together.
“I thought it was enlightening. She surprised me because I’ve never actually seen her in a debate—or Biden for that matter—but I feel like as a woman you go in as an underdog,” Alicia Burdy, a junior at Saint Louis University (SLU) said during a debate watch party for SLU students. “I think she surprised a lot of people. I know how I’m voting it- but the debate backs up my decision even more.”
Students who watched the debate in the Danforth University Center (DUC), where 200 people gathered in Tisch Commons, felt the results were the same.
“This debate just solidified my faith in Obama and Biden. I think that most of the students here, including me, would agree that Biden won the debate tonight,” Jessica Katzenstein, a junior, said.
Some conservatives were also displeased with Palin.
“I thought she would have done a better job,” freshman Ryan Rubin said. “Biden did a good job connecting with the audience.”
Other students watched the debate at Edison Theatre, where political experts lectured before the event, and Student Union President Brittany Perez spoke at the end.
“I loved that she spoke about education,” junior Stephi Blank said. “Her speech could have been stronger, more forceful—but I love what she had to say. She spoke beautifully.”
Others at Edison enjoyed the debate as well.
“In Edison Theatre, It was great especially when Wash. U. would be mentioned, people would be enthusiastic and cheering and stuff. A lot of Biden’s little facial expressions would get a lot of laughs from the crowd or funny things that Palin would say like doggone it and stuff,” junior Mitch Jenkins said.
Not everyone thought that the atmosphere at the watching sites was so inviting.
“It’s really nice to see political activity around [the debate], but it seems like a show,” Kristyna Solawetz, a senior who watched the debate at Steinberg Hall, said. “Even though it’s a good experience, it’s too theatrical.”
Nonetheless, the focus of the night was on the issues for most students, as opposed to the atmosphere.
“I don’t agree with the two other candidates so I don’t want to waste my vote on them.
Even though my vote isn’t going to change the election, no individual vote will. I think it’s much more important to make a statement about my opinions,” said Mitch Port, the president of College Libertarians, who watched at Ursa’s.
All of the viewing parties reported that Biden’s smirking while Palin talked was unpopular.
“I felt that some of facial expressions and laughing got to be out of place,” Meagan McIntosh, a junior, said.
But McIntosh still enjoyed the debate.
“They both had good arguments. They both did equally as well although I would like to say Sarah Palin would have won. I also liked that they agreed on so many issues,” McIntosh said.
But the students watching at Ursa’s, as at every other location, seemed to lean toward support for the Democratic candidates.
“I don’t have any opinions on Sarah Palin that don’t involve obscenities,” Margaret Hemkens, a senior, said.
Biden takes the debate, students say
Published: Friday, October 3, 2008
Updated: Friday, October 3, 2008
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