By: Madelynn Lockwood, Features Editor
On Tuesday, Sept. 9, the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump was held. As a first time voter, I made sure to find the time to watch the debate alongside some friends. Across campus, other students did the same to hopefully be able to make an informed decision this November at the polls. I interviewed students around campus to see how the debate impacted their views heading into election season.
Most of the students I interviewed hadn’t watched the debate, many of them citing a busy schedule, but others gave a more candid answer; they didn’t watch because it wouldn’t have changed their mind. With this being a clearly polarizing debate, it wasn’t necessarily shocking to hear, but understandably, at a time when holding strong views can set you up for uncomfortable conversations, I appreciated the honesty.
Other groups of students watched in hoards, like Dr. Loughead’s Logic class which held a viewing party on the sixth floor of Bosch. I watched in my dorm room with some sorority sisters. Many heard about it being talked about on campus and in their classrooms. Regardless if you digested it in real time or watched recaps, I did not find anyone who was unaware it was happening.
Quite intentionally, I did not ask who students were voting for when I walked around campus, but some offered their stance up. Being on a liberal arts, urban campus, most of the students I came across made jokes about Trump and clearly expressed their support for Harris, but it is important to remember the sample size here. It should be noted that this is not a random sample, nor a truly diverse range of opinions, nor a scientific poll, but simply the people I happened to come across and were willing to talk to me following the debate.
I think that the most important thing that I got out of these conversations was that most people made their choice long ago, which in a normal and less decisive election year, can be seen as a closed-minded view. Growing up, it was preached to students that you should vote based on issues and wait to make an educated decision based on stances that the candidates endorsed, but in this election cycle, it seems there are few and far between who are holding out to make a decision.
When I spoke with an undecided student, she cited “the biggest issue right now [for me] is the conflict in Palestine. I haven’t seen either candidate speak on putting a stop to the current genocide, so that’s really my thing.” Other non-decided students didn’t care to share the topic that would tip the scale, but as some have pointed out, these are the folks that could decide the election.
In this election, regardless of your views – or where you are voting – it is important to cast your ballot. It is one of the most patriotic things one could do for their nation, in my opinion, and as a young American woman, that act is an honor.
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