Several of CNN’s political commentators were on stage in Brookings Quadrangle to discuss this election’s issues and their predictions for the debate throughout the weekend. Political commentators Angela Rye and Kayleigh McEnany often appear on CNN to discuss their support for presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, respectively. Student Life spoke with them about their experiences at Washington University and any messages they may have for students.

Student Life: So, what do you guys feel like the general attitude is here today in the crowd?

Angela Rye: Well, I think Kaleigh [McEnany] has a little more support here than I do—at least more vocal supporters, for Trump in the background there. But everyone’s been really pleasant. We just had someone come up and ask to take a selfie with both of us. And I was like, ‘As long as you don’t use this as an endorsement picture, we’re good!’

SL: So you feel like there’s no real animosity between the people?

AR: Not that I’ve seen. Have you seen any?

Kayleigh McEnany: No, the students have been so engaged. I was so impressed because we came here, and students are out here from both sides of the aisle. And that’s just exciting to see as a millennial myself.

AR: And [Gary] Johnson, too!

SL: And to the Johnson supporters, what do you think about that?

AR: Uh, I really don’t. What is Aleppo? (laughs) I don’t. I mean, honestly, I think, I’m not necessarily for a two-party system, and I think it’s important for democracy to have multiple voices, multiple perspectives. But I just really don’t think that that’s a perspective that we should be proud of. I want him to be a little more educated in his opinions and in his statements.

KM: I think it shows just how unpopular Hillary Clinton is. She’s hemorrhaging support among millennials. Millennials are the key component of what got President Barack Obama to the White House. And the fact that Gary Johnson has wrung in at nearly 20 percent support among millennials—I mean, it’s phenomenal, and it goes to show her weaknesses with young voters who don’t trust her.

SL: For many of the people at school right now, this is their first election. A lot of people are taking that as like a joke—like ‘I can’t believe this is the first time I’m voting.’ What do you guys say about that? What do you think that is?

AR: I hope that they don’t take voting and the opportunity and even the privilege to vote as a joke. I think it’s important, and we have so much on the line, and interestingly, to be talking about assault, right at this debate, on this campus, where sexual assault on college campuses is becoming more prevalent, and their awareness about it is really increasing. I think it’s important. And I hope that, if for no other reason, they tune in and think about what that might mean for their friends, and being there for their friends who give them courage and the support they need to talk about it if it’s happened to them.

KM: Yeah, I’m just proud of millennials for doing their research. They’re not a group of voters who vote lock step for one party; they’re a group of voters who are independent enough to say, ‘Hey, I’ve researched both candidates’, and a lot of millennials say ‘I’m going with Johnson,’ and that takes a lot of academic thought and effort and research. I am proud of this group of voters for being independent-minded. I want them to vote Trump, of course, but, having said that, I am proud of them for doing their research.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to fix a transcription error.