CMCers are living up to their Princeton Review ranking as the nation's "most politically active" students, with three upcoming bipartisan Debate Day events, including student and community debate-watching parties on CMC's Green Beach. Events begin at 4:30 p.m. at CMC's Pickford Auditorium on Thursday, Sept. 30, Friday, Oct. 8, and Wednesday, Oct. 13.
Involving student debaters and panelists from three campus political organizationsDemocrats, Republicans and Libertarians of The Claremont Collegeseach event will run for an hour, followed by a 5:30 p.m. reception and viewing of the presidential debates on Green Beach at 6 p.m. "CMC students have always wanted to organize debate-watching parties on campus," says Democrats of the Claremont Colleges' Taryn Benarroch '05. "Our students are completely passionate about this election. There's a lot of interest on campus."
Rob Carpenter '06, head of the Republicans of The Claremont Colleges and an RNC delegate, says the events are designed to foster good dialogue among students, "to show that you can have a debate on the issues with people who don't share the same positions, and still be friends when it's over."
The Claremont Colleges Debate Union is helping coordinate the events.
Amy Nelson '05, in charge of the Debate Union's public affairs programs, says that besides coordinating with the three campus political organizations that are involved, the Debate Union, directed by John Meany, also is funding the events with the assistance of The People Speak, a nonprofit that funds a number of debate-related programs across the country.
The Sept. 30 event will feature two-person debate teams arguing the topic, America's Place in the World. Audience members will be invited to participate through questions and floor speeches.
The Oct. 8 event is a panel discussion in Scripps College's Balch Hall, involving three-person teams that will discuss energy and environmental policy questions. And on Oct. 13, crowds will head to Smith Campus Center at Pomona College for a formalized debate on The U.S. Economy Under the Bush Tax Cuts.
"I hope these events draw lots of students," Carpenter says. "It's an opportunity for them to see both sides. And from a media perspective, I think we'll be able to show the country that you can have a cooperative dialogue about important issues."
The event also symbolizes the increasing involvement of young adults in the political process, Carpenter says. "It seems that, in most presidential elections, there are predictions that the youth vote is going to make a difference, and then it doesn't happen. This could be the year when that changes, with the kind of race Howard Dean ran and the way he sparked interest among young voters, this one might."
"It's important for The Claremont Colleges to show the community that our students are involved in American politics," Benarroch added. "The Q&A opportunities and the floor speeches will be a huge part of that effort."
And, she says, it's important to establish a tradition. "I hope it becomes a regular election-year activity, because it really could cement CMC's reputation in the community as a center of political activity."