Students usually turn to The New School Student Study Center for a quiet place to study and work. But for the presidential debate on October 3, the space at 90 Fifth Avenue became loud, boisterous and political.Roughly 70 students, alumni and other members of the university community watched candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama discuss domestic policy and the economy in the first debate of this year’s general election cycle, held in Denver, Colorado.
The university’s Office of Student Housing and Residence Life, along with the Office for Student Development and Activities, sponsored the study center screening. Members of the organizations brought snacks and light refreshments, and set up an overhead projector as well as over a dozen couches for those watching the debate.
The students in attendance were there because of their interest in the critical political issues at hand in the election, according to OSDA assistant director and Lang graduate Nick Krebs.
“Students care about many issues – college loan debt, war, killing people without due process,” Krebs said. “More New School students will likely vote for Obama next month than for Romney. But many here are skeptical of both candidates.”
Despite the turnout at 90 Fifth Avenue, 21-year old New School for Public Engagement student Joel Arken said he worries about cynicism and apathy among New School students toward the election.
“Our university’s politics don’t fit in partisan duality,“ said Arken, a registered independent in his home state of Oregon who will be voting for the first time in this year’s election. “Because of that, as politically active as this school is, many of its people have lost faith in the voting booth.”
But Krebs said he believes that screening parties like Wednesday night’s event will attract student voters hoping to make informed decisions at the ballot box.
“I think they’ll all be fun,” Krebs said. ”They’ll all bring different groups together to watch, eat, learn, and maybe get some homework done, too.”
The New School’s next two debate screenings will take place at each of the university’s residence halls. The second nationally televised debate will air on Thursday, October 11, when vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan hit the podium in Danville, Kentucky. Obama and Romney will debate once again on Tuesday, October 16.
The university-wide debate series will bookend at Kellen Auditorium on Monday, October 22, the night of the final presidential debate.
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