Feature Photo by Logan Bowman
Story by Logan Bowman
The MTSU Honors College hosted a presidential debate watch party in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors building Tuesday night. Organizers invited the MTSU Department of Political and Global Affairs, as well as all Honors College students.
“We, as the Honors College, have always been the hosts of the American Democracy Project,” event organizer and Honors College coordinator Miura Rempis-Locke said. “But, more than that, Dean Vile is a constitutional scholar.”
When the dean suggested hosting the debate, Rempis-Locke promised to make it happen.
The American Democracy Project is a network of state colleges and universities collaborating to engage and educate students on American politics and encourage students to register to vote. Their goal aligns with the Honors College’s in hosting the debate watch: political education.
“We thought this would be a good way to provide civic education, and we don’t have any agenda in terms of this,” Honors College Dean John Vile said. “I want people on both sides to have a better understanding of what their candidates are for and are against, and what they stand for.”
The Student Government Association held a similar party, but this viewing catered specifically to Honors College students interested in politics.
“I was going to watch it either way, so might as well watch it as a watch party,” sophomore Rowan Jennings said.
Tensions in the room were high preceding the debate, but the mood quickly changed around the halfway point.
“The tone has shifted a little bit seeing how each of the presidential candidates are actually acting versus what we expected them to do,” Rempis-Locke said.
Viewers of the debate were nevertheless engaged in each candidate’s performance.
Rempis-Locke hopes the debate viewing inspired students to become more engaged in politics, namely to register and vote in the upcoming election.
“Speaking as someone who is an MTSU alum, somebody who is an employee of the University, somebody who cares about democracy, I don’t care who you vote for; just make sure that you’re registered to vote,” Rempis-Locke said.
Students can register to vote at vote.gov or visit Professor Mary Evins and the American Democracy Project in Room 221 of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building.
Logan Bowman is a contributing writer for MTSU Sidelines.
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