With the presidential election on the horizon, Millikin faculty members are educating young voters.
On September 10th, Dr. Laura Dean and Nicole DeLiberis supervised a presidential debate watch party.
There were bingo cards for the debate that featured the words “China,” “fake news,” and “abortion” that were to be crossed off when either presidential nominee mentioned the phrase or said the word.
As well as the bingo cards, there was paperwork for students to register to vote as well.
As the debate began, students’ side conversations came to a halt as they readied their bingo cards, excited to tune in.
“Everybody seemed really engaged, and was getting all the information that was happening in the debate,” junior Ameena Harris said. “I definitely think it was very vital for students to come tonight because other students were here so they didn’t feel like they were like an outcast or it was awkward to come.”
But as students began cheering for either candidate during the debate, it became clear that not everyone had the same opinion. Some students were laughing about what nominee Donald Trump said, and there were some who were clapping about his statements.
Freshman Brody Clark was on the side of the room that was cheering for nominee Trump and was watching interactions between students.
“When some things were going on [in the debate], I was having my own opinion, and [other students] turned around and they were saying some nasty things about my opinions, which I believe everybody’s able to have their own [opinions],” Clark said. “And I mean, I don’t hate them for it, because it happens a lot, and I’ve kind of gotten used to it.”
There was a divide in the crowd and one of the event supervisors, DeLiberis, went over to talk to the side of the room Clark was on.
“I was trying to listen to a student share more information about how they felt like they hear a lot of other people out, but often aren’t heard out, and sometimes can feel like the minority in a space like we have here at Millikin,” DeLiberis said.
There was an overwhelming cheer for nominee Kamala Harris at the debate watch party, so Clark’s side of the room was the minority in that situation. But that is the same in many spaces at Millikin; republican voices are seldom heard.
When asked about safe spaces to openly discuss both political parties’ views, DeLiberis didn’t know of any explicit places.
“I’m not sure of any places that I know of myself right now,” DeLiberis said. “I think some student organizations are having voter information events because that is something that is really nonpartisan. This event is also nonpartisan, so people can come from all different viewpoints. In terms of places on campus, I think student organizations are things that feel safe for people.”
Although people are allowed to have their own political opinions and are allowed to express them, Clark was receiving nasty comments from others during the watch party.
“Not many people respect what I have to believe,” Clark said. “So, it’s kind of weird coming in here, but at the same time, everybody has their own opinions. I could care less what another person believes. I just believe everybody should be respectful to everybody, no matter what opinion they have.”
Harris was near Clark and recalled hearing his side of the room cheering at certain comments.
“I definitely was kind of taken aback when some of the people were clapping at Trump’s comments that were just outright disrespectful, in my opinion,” Harris said. “But it’s politics, you know, everybody has their own stance.”
Harris respects that everyone has the right to their own opinion and even encourages differing opinions on campus.
“I think everybody should have a voice because the right to vote and the right to be informed about politics and voting is for every American citizen,” Harris said. “So, I think everybody should be well versed and be able to talk about it, and I think it helps the dynamic of the campus and student life, as long as everything is kept clean and it’s just a good natural conversation, a good natural debate amongst the two stances, I encourage it because it makes things a little bit better because everything’s not one-sided.”
Millikin students made it clear that some of them support nominee Trump and some support nominee Harris. So next time you hear politics brought up in class, think about which side you hear more about. I think you would be surprised how quiet republican students can be in political discussions.
There will be more chances for students to get out and learn about how to vote and about politics in general on campus. September 17th is National Voter Registration Day and there will be resources to register to vote in the University Commons, September 30th to October 4th is voter registration week and there will, again, be resources to register to vote in the University Commons, and finally on November 5th is election day and Millikin will be bussing and walking students to places they can vote.
Millikin will continue to encourage people to vote, so on November 5th, use Millikin’s resources to get out and vote.
