Hundreds of students filled the theater to watch the highly-anticipated presidential debate between Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee former President Donald Trump in the Student Center Sept.10.
Sierra Conyers, a freshman nursing major, said she wanted to watch the debate so she’s not biased in who she votes for. After the debate concluded, Conyers said she learned a lot about both candidates and she’s able to remain unbiased in her vote.
“I was listening to what others had to say and didn’t do my research. Coming to this watch party allowed me access to the ‘facts’ and now I can say, I’m definitely meaning more towards one side,” said Conyers.
Harris is less than two months into her campaign, which launched after President Joe Biden dropped out and endorsed her in his stead. Democratic party leaders quickly rallied around her and established political figures — such as former President Barack Obama and Rep. Nancy Pelosi — endorsed her as the Democratic candidate.
During the debate, early student reactions favored Harris but also pressed for more specific information about her stand on Israel’s ongoing attack on Palestine.
“I wasn’t a fan of Kamala’s points on foreign relations, it felt misguided and out of touch,” said Malaya Mason, a sophomore political major at the university. “She was sticking by Israel despite what they’re doing and [Americans] keep supplying them [Israel] with money, guns and bombs.”
Mason’s comments followed Harris’s and Trump’s statements about a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
“Let’s understand how we got here. On Oct. 7, Hamas, a terrorist organization, slaughtered 1,200 Israelis, many of them young people, who were simply attending a concert. Women were horribly raped,” Harris said. “And so absolutely I said then, I say now, Israel has a right to defend itself. We would.”
Since Hamas’ attack on a concert in Israel last year, the country responded with consistent attacks on Palestine. According to an August statement from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, 40,005 Palestinian people have died and 92,401 have been wounded.
Conversely, a recent article published by the Jerusalem Post detailed that 1,664 Israelis have been killed — 706 being soldiers — and 17,809 Israelis have been wounded.
“How it does so matters because it is also true [that] far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed — children, mothers. What we know is that this war must end,” said Harris. “It must end immediately.”
Harris went on to echo sentiments similar to what she shared during her nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
“We must chart a course for a two-state solution and in that solution, there must be security for the Israeli people and Israel and an equal measure for the Palestians,” Harris said.
Senior political science major Tyler Mitchell, a registered independent voter said despite Harris’s “somewhat vague” response, his perspective on the election maintains the same and he will be voting for Harris.
“Kamala didn’t answer all the questions properly but her answers weren’t fake news or misinformation on any false premises,” said Mitchell. “So after watching the debate tonight, my views have strengthened to the point where I know I don’t want Trump nowhere near office.”
According to the Associated Press “FACT FOCUS” article, Trump overstated his economic record, lied that the Biden Administration had “the highest inflation”, affirmed his distance from Project 2025 during the debate although he was previously ambivalent, introduced and returned to “after birth” abortions and more.
“I created one of the greatest economies in the history of our country … They’ve destroyed the economy,” said Trump. “Her vice presidential pick says abortion in the ninth month is absolutely fine. He also says execution after birth, its execution, no longer abortion, because the baby is born, is okay.”
Debate moderator Linsey Davis fact checked the statement and said, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after its born.”
Reproductive rights were a contentious point during the debate for candidates and viewers alike.
“No man should be able to speak on abortion in the manner that he has,” said Conyers.“This is not someone we want in the office. We want someone who is willing to represent the minorities and uphold American citizens’ rights.”
Find voting information at https://www.vote.org/.
