Campus political groups invite interest
Christopher Corbin
Issue date: 10/17/08 Section: News
With the Nov. 4 election day less than a month away and the national campaigns of both candidates kicking into high gear, the question remains: what are student organizations on the Florida Southern Campus doing to remain politically involved?
On Oct. 1, in order to help foster awareness of the issues at stake in the national election, the College Democrats and College Republicans held the "The Great Debate." Following the lead of the national presidential debates, this event strove to present Florida Southern students with an opportunity to gather information about major issues being addressed by both presidential candidates.
This was the first time the two groups had put on a debate at FSC.
Including the moderator and the speakers, the campus body was represented by more than fifty people at the event. Of those fifty, the majority were students, joined by a few of the faculty and staff from the college.
The evening began with an introduction from Matt Thompson, the dean of student development, which included an appeal to students to get out and vote and to make sure that they make up their own minds on the issues.
Representing the positions of Senator Barack Obama and the College Democrats was junior Shay Lessman, and representing Senator John McCain and the College Republicans was sophomore Marcus Duffy. The candidates were given six questions beforehand in order to prepare statements which represented their particular candidates' views.
After a short biographical statement about each candidate, the speakers began responding to the six questions. Topics ranged from their choices of vice presidential running mates to education and immigration.
From their perspectives, both presenters felt the debate was successful.
"I feel that students reacted very positively to the debate," Lessman said. He went on to add that the debate was not supposed to be one "with a decided winner and loser," but instead he felt that the "debate was not so much about choosing a side as it was providing information that is essential for all voters, especially those of the college age, to know."
On Oct. 1, in order to help foster awareness of the issues at stake in the national election, the College Democrats and College Republicans held the "The Great Debate." Following the lead of the national presidential debates, this event strove to present Florida Southern students with an opportunity to gather information about major issues being addressed by both presidential candidates.
This was the first time the two groups had put on a debate at FSC.
Including the moderator and the speakers, the campus body was represented by more than fifty people at the event. Of those fifty, the majority were students, joined by a few of the faculty and staff from the college.
The evening began with an introduction from Matt Thompson, the dean of student development, which included an appeal to students to get out and vote and to make sure that they make up their own minds on the issues.
Representing the positions of Senator Barack Obama and the College Democrats was junior Shay Lessman, and representing Senator John McCain and the College Republicans was sophomore Marcus Duffy. The candidates were given six questions beforehand in order to prepare statements which represented their particular candidates' views.
After a short biographical statement about each candidate, the speakers began responding to the six questions. Topics ranged from their choices of vice presidential running mates to education and immigration.
From their perspectives, both presenters felt the debate was successful.
"I feel that students reacted very positively to the debate," Lessman said. He went on to add that the debate was not supposed to be one "with a decided winner and loser," but instead he felt that the "debate was not so much about choosing a side as it was providing information that is essential for all voters, especially those of the college age, to know."
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