JSU holds election panel discussion and debate watch party [GALLERY]

Aaron Walker
Staff Writer

Presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off in the first nationally broadcasted debate since winning their party’s nomination on Sept. 26 on NBC. The debate was considered a defining moment of the 2016 campaign for both candidates.

The College of Liberal Arts, Department of Speech and Theatre and the Department of Political Science all collaborated to present “Who Will Decide for you? First Presidential Debate” watch party, which featured a pre-debate student panel discussion.

The students serving on that panel included: Lemuel Barney, a junior political science major from Houston, Texas; Tamarcus Lott, a senior speech communication major from Memphis, Tenn.; Jaclyn Bush, a junior theatre major from Ridgeland, Miss.; Le’Ana Rhett, a sophomore political science major from Snellville, Ga.; Gerald Harris, a senior mass communication major from Nashville, Tenn.; and Kendall Bunch, Student Government Association President and senior accounting major from Olive Branch, Miss. The moderator was Lolita Gray, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science.

Bunch stated that about 2,000 out of the 4,000 students are registered voters.

Some of the issues discussed were police brutality, immigration, crime and education, and gender equality. Police brutality was one of the hottest topics and included heated discussions on perception that there is a lack of training police officers and a need for conflict resolution training.

Some of the students in attendance were eager to see if the debate would offer more insight on the candidate’s positions on many topics.

Bessie House-Soremekun, associate dean of Liberal Arts, attended the event in hopes of gaining more information on the candidate’s and their positions of several issues.

“I’m a multi-issue voter and I am looking at a broad spectrum of issues,” said House-Soremekun.

Lester Holt, anchor for NBC Nightly News, moderated the televised event. The debate was divided into six timed segments of approximately 15 minutes each on major topics to be selected by the moderator.

These topics included questions about ISIS, jobs, cyber warfare, Trump’s tax returns, Clinton’s email scandal, and race in America.

Hillary Clinton was deemed the winner of Monday night’s debate by 62 percent of voters who tuned in to watch, while just 27 percent said they thought Donald Trump had the better night, according to a CNN/ORC Poll of voters who watched the debate.

Donovan Barner said the debate did little to sway him in any direction but it was a fun watch.

“In my honest opinion, I feel that Hillary won, though I am not a supporter. Trump came off very flustered and seemed very defensive. The issue I found most interesting is Trump questioning and attacking Hillary on her support of the Trans Pacific Partnership and her lack of transparency in her views of national security,” said Barner, a freshman English major from Jackson, Miss. “I feel more of a disdain for both Clinton and Trump after the debate.”

Other students, like Jelicia Smith, felt that Hillary Clinton was a clear winner of round 1.

“Hillary did the best by far. She attempted to stay on topic and actually had valid points to prove,” said Smith, a sophomore industrial technology major from Jackson, Miss. “The issue that interested me the most is when they talked about stop and frisk because I wanted to know their opinions. The debate didn’t change my opinion, it just gave me further reasons to endorse my candidate and why I agree with the choice I made because #I’mwithher.”

Cedric Piggs also believed Clinton defeated Trump in the first debate.

“I believe Hilary to be the best candidate. The concerns and issues that Hilary discussed pertained to the betterment of the country. The issue of race is something that Hilary talked about that intrigued me,” said Piggs, a junior English major from Bronx, N.Y.

The Presidential election will take place on Nov. 8, 2016.  Students who have not already registered have until Oct. 8 to do so and become eligible to cast a vote for their candidate of choice.

Photo: William H. Kelly III