By Jaci Schneider, Opinion Editor
President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry, D.-Mass., debated each other twice last week over various issues and policies, leading up to the election on Nov. 2. Two ACU clubs met to watch the debates together.
The College Democrats met with the College Republicans on Sept. 30 in the University Park Apartments Clubhouse to watch first of the four televised debates.
“About 30 people came I think,” said Amy Perez, sophomore education major and chair of the College Democrats. “All the chairs and couches were full, and people were sitting on the floor.”
The Democrats organized the evening and offered free pizza to lure students to come. Although not as many people attended the second presidential debate or the vice presidential debate, the group also reserved the clubhouse Wednesday for the final presidential debate.
Casey Bingham, sophomore political science major and chair of the College Republicans, said he’s glad the groups are working to keep students involved in the election.
“It was fairly civil,” he said. “We didn’t spark any big debates.”
Perez said she also thought the meeting went well, and some people stayed after the debates to discuss the issues.
“It was all in good humor,” she said. “We gave each other hugs and everything on the way out.”
Perez said she hoped the coming election would draw more members to the College Democrats, but she’s surprised that membership has remained steady since last year; about 25 people are in the group.
“I thought because it was election year, people would be more interested,” Perez said, “but both us and the College Republicans are looking for numbers.”
The College Republicans have a steady membership of about 20 to 25, Bingham said.
Many of the group’s members watched the second presidential debate and the vice presidential debate at the election office of Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R.-19th District. The group will watch the third and final debate on Wednesday and will also offer free pizza.
“There’s a whole lot at stake in this election,” Bingham said. “Stay involved and informed with the issues.”
