The Falcon   |   Volume 83, Issue 53

Published 5/29/13   |   Log In

Debate, dessert attract students to ‘Vote Smart’

By KALIE NELSON, Staff Reporter

Published: October 17, 2012

Students in Upper Gwinn enjoyed dessert, town hall questions and political parties last night at the “Vote Smart” presidential debate viewing and panel discussion.

ASSP hosted “Vote Smart,” which consisted of watching the second presidential debate between Democratic candidate President Barack Obama and Republican candidate, Governor Mitt Romney.

Roughly 400 students packed the seats in Upper Gwinn to view the debate live via CNN.

Students laughed when moderator Candy Crowley reminded candidates to be “precise and on point” in answering questions, while explaining the debate rules.

When the first question of the debate came from a college junior asking how he, and many others, are supposed to support themselves after graduation, the audience in Upper Gwinn cheered.

“It was good to hear about,” said sophomore Samuel Ernest. “I think [this issue] is something that every generation faces.”

At the debate in Hempstead, New York, some college students in attendance were permitted to ask the candidates questions, relating to the issues that many other college students face with the rise of tuition and poor job market.

Professors of the Seattle Pacific Political Science and Geography Department agreed to answer student questions, both from the audience and text submission.

Dr. Reed Davis, Dr. Caleb Henry, Dr. Ruth Ediger and Dr. Kathleen Braden took the stage once the debate was over.

“I thought it was a fun debate,” Henry said. “Both candidates probably feel really good about themselves.”

Davis had another issue in mind.

“It was one of the most disgraceful moments by a moderator I could ever imagine,” he said. “[Candy Crawley] should be ashamed of herself.”

During the debate, Crawley allowed more speaking time for Obama than for Romney, as the times were visible on the bottom of the screen. Issues were raised during this time, where she vouched for the president and allowed certain questions to remain unanswered.

The moderator of the last presidental debate, Jim Lehrer, was also critized by many for not being assertive during the debate.

“I felt really bad for Romney,” Braden said. “I hope, if he is elected president, that someone protects him against the big, bad reporters.”

Ediger pointed out their difference in tie colors, as for every debate, they each wear a specific one.

“It’s theatrical,” she said.

When it came time for students to ask questions, one student’s curiosity stumped the panelists.

“Dr. Davis is head of the department,” Braden said, handing the microphone down his direction. “He can answer that one.”

The student asked: Do you think Jesus would vote in an election?

“Absolutely,” Davis said. “We are called to be stewards and agents in God’s Kingdom. You can bet there will be voting in heaven.”

“Both candidates have profound philosophical differences,” Davis said. “The governor believes the government should be smaller and less intrusive, while the president believes it should be bigger and play a more active role.”

A handful of SPU students were able to have their questions answered by the panelists, since there was a large number of students in attendance.

For Braden, the point of the event was to educate students about the two candidates.

“I hope you will make a proper choice about which unrealistic person [you would like] to live with,” Braden said, referring to the candidates.

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