On Sept. 10, a group of about 50 students gathered in Weyerhaeuser Hall on Whitworth’s campus where two screens projected ABC’s 2024 Presidential Debate. Assistant Professor of Political Science Aaron Hitefield and Professor of Communication Studies Mike Ingram facilitated the group interaction, opening discussions on what to expect from the debate and some possible outcomes.
The room buzzed with excitement, particularly from the front row of political science majors, as the countdown drew closer. The room fell silent as ABC moderators David Muir and Lindsey Davis opened the debate. However, the silence was short lived as laughter ripped through the room when Republican candidate Donald Trump started speaking.
The students recounted how they felt about watching the debate with other people. “I do think there was a bit of a bias,” said secondary education and English major Sam York. “But I did enjoy watching it with other people.”
In the midst of laughter, gasping, and frustrated head shaking, there is a sense of the gravity of this election among some of the students, “It kind of bothered me when people were laughing at how the candidates responded,” said political science major Alisa Bibaj. “Especially now that we’re mature, and this is a serious case.”
Aside from creating a space for healthy electoral discussion, students are also encouraged to vote and register to vote. Ingram had welcomed all attendees that night with a large poster that said “vote” in bold letters with a QR code beneath it for students to access online voting registration.
“I was already going to vote,” said secondary education and history major Anna Bell. “I think voting is a really important matter, especially as a woman in America. We had to fight for that.”
The tension between Trump and Harris got more intense as the debate touched on issues such as the economy, immigration, health insurance, military, abortion and climate change. By the end, moderators were fighting to control the candidate’s microphone use and keep to their schedule.
“It kind of made me want to vote less, to be honest,” admitted psychology and philosophy major Stella Palmisano.
Ingram hosted the same event four years ago during the last presidential election, but this was Hitefield’s first time. “I was surprised by a couple things, actually; the amount of students, and then the fact that they stayed through the entire debate and for the discussion after,” said Hitefield. Neither professors were expecting such a large turnout nor the excitement students brought with them.
“I was so pleased by how students responded,” said Hitefield. “Everybody was very respectful, and that highlights the unique nature of who Whitworth students are.”
