Texas' College Democrats and College Republicans are preparing to make the most of the September 16 presidential debate on campus.
Debate or not debate looms large this election season as presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden head to the first of three presidential debates to be held at the University Events Center. There is.
But University Republicans President Carly French and University Democratic Party President Jacob Graybill said they want students to participate in what they call elections that will shape the future of the country, whether there is a debate or not. .
“While there have been conversations about whether candidates will appear, it is our goal to continue to be engaged and compile and disseminate information about the election and the candidates,” French said.
As for debate day, Graybill said they want to be in the venue, but University Democrats is focused on creating an environment on the main campus that excites students for the debate.
Graybill said University Democrats will partner with the Hays County Democratic Party to launch a semester-long unified campaign on campus in the fall. The campaign will include creating tables, hiring election researchers and registering voters.
“As for the debate, I think other ministers will also come.” [to Texas State] And…we're going to have a big watch party and we'd like to have some ministers there,” Graybill said.
French told College Republicans that his plans for the debate are aimed at highlighting the Republican Party's presence in Texas. This includes collaborating with Student Involvement & Engagement to form a “debate” committee with other student political organizations to host events through September 16th.
“We also [Hays County Republican Party] “We made plans to wave flags in the streets of San Marcos on the day of the debate and in advance of the debate,” French said. “There will also be a watch party that we will host on the day of the debate.”
According to French and Graybill, college Republicans and Democrats want to use their platforms to highlight key issues the party supports as important issues take center stage in the current election season. It is said that there is
“A big topic that we're all concerned about right now is border security…Fentanyl is also a big issue for students, so I hope those come up in the discussion,” French said. “We also want to have a box for students to write in the biggest problem they want them to work on.”
Graybill said issues that the College Democrats would like to highlight as important issues in upcoming events and campaigns are anti-abortion rights, Senate Bill 4, and the criminalization of marijuana.
French and Graybill recognize that these topics are controversial and say they foster a culture of constructive debate within their organizations to encourage open discussion of differing views. Stated.
Graybill and French said the College Democrats and College Republicans have their own goals for the 2024 debate, but acknowledge it is an opportunity to benefit the student body as a whole.
“Our campus is divided along partisan lines, but I hope the debate will show that we can all work together, even if each side holds to their own beliefs,” French said. .
Universities are working on different ways to engage students in discussions. According to Sandy Pantryk, vice president of marketing and communications, one of the ways he does that is by taking advantage of volunteer opportunities.
“know [Student Involvement & Engagement] “We've done some focus groups with students about what they want to see in the discussion, and we're incorporating those findings into the programs they're working on,” Pantolyk said.
For more information on planning for the Texas presidential debate, please visit: Website.
