Students and faculty came together across party lines to watch the first and only vice-presidential debate of 2024. Despite the candidates’ differing viewpoints, many viewers appreciated both sides’ respectful tone and strong arguments.
Pearson Cross, the director of the School of Behavioral & Social Sciences, teaches about the presidency in his course on the American national government. With years of experience in political commentary, he offered valuable insights into the debate. While he found that the viewers of the presidential debate heavily favored Harris, Cross viewed the vice-presidential debate as a draw.
During the debate, the candidates, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Gov. Tim Walz addressed pressing issues such as Hurricane Helene, gun control, and abortion. Participants at the watch party expressed relief and joy after hearing their candidates’ stances. Freshman psychology major Ruthie Roth shared that Walz’s approach to women’s reproductive rights made her feel protected and reassured.
“His mannerisms and the way he discussed the topic made me feel safe as a woman, especially considering how reproductive rights are being debated,” Roth said. “He was very clear that it shouldn’t even be a topic of debate, expressing strong support for not taking away women’s rights.”
As the debate concluded, supporters on both sides expressed positive views about their candidates’ performances while acknowledging their opponents’ strengths.
“Vance made more convincing points backed by facts. I still support him, but I learned a lot about Walz during the debate,” Sophomore political science major Azlyn Isaac said.
Students who supported Walz, such as junior psychology major Brooke Dison, shared a similar sentiment.
“Both candidates articulated their arguments well, but Walz made the most sense to me,” Dison said. “I understood their positions on various policies, but I still prefer Walz over JD Vance.”
Assistant political science professor Jennifer Dumas emphasized that the candidates aimed to highlight their platforms. However, she expressed concerns about the debate’s long-term significance.
“We are hearing from vice presidential candidates, not the presidential candidates,” Dumas said. “Ultimately, it will be the next president who makes the important decisions, not the vice president.”