2008 Woodie Awards
UIC debate watch party draws student interest
Alejandro de Jesus
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: News
Media Credit: Malcolm ThompsonNearly 100 students attended a debate watch party in the Montgomery Ward Lounge on Thursday.
Thursday's Vice Presidential debate at Washington University began with a few house rules from moderator Gwen Ifill requesting that there be "no cheers, applause, or obscene outbursts." However at UIC's debate watch party, held in the Montgomery Ward Lounge, the rules were a bit different.
The event was organized by SPEAK, a student organization that hosts roundtable discussions on critical issues; Alpha Phi Alpha; the Political Science department; the Jane Addams Hull-House and the Honors College. It was intended to cater to the growing interests in politics in the student body.
"I hated politics until I met Barack Obama in 2004 when he was running for Senate," said first-year Giselle DelaRosa. "when he spoke it was amazing and inspiring, and now here he is running for President."
A young charismatic Presidential nominee in Barack Obama may have interested many young voters in politics, but it was Gov. Sarah Palin's recent interview with CBS' Katie Couric which sparked a greater interest in this debate.
"I just came to watch Palin get her ass handed to her," added DelaRosa.
Many of the debate watchers at UIC put Palin on the hot seat by carefully listening to what she had to say. While all ears were tuned to Palin, this ended up playing to her advantage. Low expectations were relentlessly surpassed as she succeeded by sticking to the script and avoiding unnecessary verbal antics.
"Palin did a somewhat more convincing job throwing together talking points as opposed to semi-coherent jumble," described third-year graduate student Jonathon Schneider. "[Although] I was reminded of the Katie Couric interview at some points, she didn't fall into a hole quite as often."
Where Palin struggled with shaky performances on less familiar issues, she made up for in Fargo-like taglines: Palin mended her connection with voters and weaved in a few "darn rights" and "Joe Six-Packs" into her vernacular. However, for the many debate watchers at UIC, her "down to earth" tics did not gain her any ground.
One attendee, Shanina Jenkins, felt patronized by Palin's terminology.
"It was as if she was talking to us like [we were] her third grade class," said Jenkins.
Last Thursday's debate was the only Vice Presidential debate of this year's election. Although Americans do not choose their Presidents based on the bottom of the ticket, the debate was crucial to voters.
UIC debate watch party organizers from Alpha Phi Alpha and SPEAK were pleased with the turnout, which totaled to just under 100 people. Free food was served, but the overall atmosphere of the event seemed to revolve around a common interest in politics.
Organizers from SPEAK and Alpha Phi Alpha look forward to the final presidential debate on Oct. 15, when they will hold another watch party in the Montgomery Ward Lounge.
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The event was organized by SPEAK, a student organization that hosts roundtable discussions on critical issues; Alpha Phi Alpha; the Political Science department; the Jane Addams Hull-House and the Honors College. It was intended to cater to the growing interests in politics in the student body.
"I hated politics until I met Barack Obama in 2004 when he was running for Senate," said first-year Giselle DelaRosa. "when he spoke it was amazing and inspiring, and now here he is running for President."
A young charismatic Presidential nominee in Barack Obama may have interested many young voters in politics, but it was Gov. Sarah Palin's recent interview with CBS' Katie Couric which sparked a greater interest in this debate.
"I just came to watch Palin get her ass handed to her," added DelaRosa.
Many of the debate watchers at UIC put Palin on the hot seat by carefully listening to what she had to say. While all ears were tuned to Palin, this ended up playing to her advantage. Low expectations were relentlessly surpassed as she succeeded by sticking to the script and avoiding unnecessary verbal antics.
"Palin did a somewhat more convincing job throwing together talking points as opposed to semi-coherent jumble," described third-year graduate student Jonathon Schneider. "[Although] I was reminded of the Katie Couric interview at some points, she didn't fall into a hole quite as often."
Where Palin struggled with shaky performances on less familiar issues, she made up for in Fargo-like taglines: Palin mended her connection with voters and weaved in a few "darn rights" and "Joe Six-Packs" into her vernacular. However, for the many debate watchers at UIC, her "down to earth" tics did not gain her any ground.
One attendee, Shanina Jenkins, felt patronized by Palin's terminology.
"It was as if she was talking to us like [we were] her third grade class," said Jenkins.
Last Thursday's debate was the only Vice Presidential debate of this year's election. Although Americans do not choose their Presidents based on the bottom of the ticket, the debate was crucial to voters.
UIC debate watch party organizers from Alpha Phi Alpha and SPEAK were pleased with the turnout, which totaled to just under 100 people. Free food was served, but the overall atmosphere of the event seemed to revolve around a common interest in politics.
Organizers from SPEAK and Alpha Phi Alpha look forward to the final presidential debate on Oct. 15, when they will hold another watch party in the Montgomery Ward Lounge.
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