Correction Appended Below
Standing before podiums in the Athletic Complex yesterday, students tackled key issues such as the state of Krispy Kreme donuts and the best childhood snacks in order to test the conditions of the debate hall.

The Commission on Presidential Debates used Washington University students who bore some resemblance to the vice presidential candidates and moderator Gwen Ifill in a rehearsal walk-through to ensure that the sound and lighting were functioning properly for today’s live event.

The University held two separate walkthroughs.

During the first, at 10 a.m., junior Danielle Porter stood in for Gwen Ifill, junior Madeline Thoman for Gov. Sarah Palin and senior Joe Cavanagh for Sen. Joe Biden.

During the later walkthrough at 4 p.m., senior Lydia Beasley stood in for Ifill, senior Julia Latash for Palin and junior Danny Gaynor for Biden.

The student stand-ins made up non-political debate questions and both “candidates” weighed in on the topics for up to three or four minutes.

“It’s been a lot of fun to be up there, [to] be where the candidates are going to be, to practice the walk, the wave, the handshake the choreographed movements,” Latash said. “[We covered] hard-hitting issues that affect everyday Americans like us.”

Correction

The headline of an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that students stood in for Barack Obama, not Sarah Palin. Student Life regrets the error.