Voices of the presidential candidates resonated around Cellar Bistro last night, enthralling students watching the presidential debate.
The Associated Students of the University of Arizona and the Arizona Students’ Association collaborated once again to give students the opportunity to watch the debate live, complete with free milkshakes and giveaways. ASUA and ASA held the event to increase voter education on the candidates’ positions.
Some students heard about the debate viewing through ASUA’s website, their friends and from an email they received, but some didn’t even know it was happening until they showed up to eat. Philosophy, politics, economics and law junior Aaliya Islam said she found the extra addition to her dinner to be beneficial.
“I feel like [in] watching the debate I become more aware of the issues because, obviously, school is there, life is there and you lose track of what’s going on in the real world,” Islam said. “Watching the debate while you wait for food or eat food, it’s forcing you to pay attention to what’s going on out there.”
Other students who knew about the event came because it was an opportunity for them to watch the debate. Philosophy, politics, economics and law freshman Sarah Staron said she doesn’t have a TV, so this was one of the few ways she could watch it.
Throughout the event, students got excited at Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama’s bantering, which was responded to with cheers from the audience in the favor of both candidates.
Students who came and found the event to be educational claimed they would bring some friends to the next debate viewing ASUA will host.
“I do think it’s a good way for people to get involved and to get together and watch the debate,” explained Gannon Thute, a pre-business freshman. “Based on coming here, I would be interested in coming back with maybe a couple of friends.”
Compared to the Rad, White and Blue block party that ASUA held, the audience seemed smaller, but the cyclical system of people coming and going to eat dinner made up for the smaller turnout. Many students came with the intention of just eating dinner, but some stayed afterward to finish watching.
“I think that [the debate viewings] were equally effective, but in different ways,” said ASUA President Katy Murray. “Because one was outside and there was a concert afterward, but in here it was obviously a more relaxing setting. You could just come eat here and enjoy it.”
The debate viewing for Obama and Romney’s third and final debate will be held at the Cellar Bistro on Oct. 22.
