The debate-watching party was an experience that I’m glad I didn’t miss. Truthfully, I had been anticipating this event since the beginning of the year, and I would have gone whether or not it was a course requirement to go to an event. I have no regrets about going. Some people might think I’d have rather been at a student-hosted debate party with drinking involved, but I scientifically may have died from alcohol poisoning if I had “taken a shot” every time Donald Trump said “China.”
The party gathered at 8PM in the Board of Trustees room, even though the debate started at 9PM. I was beyond excited, and for me that hour couldn’t go faster. This, for me, was the first presidential debate where I considered myself educated enough to largely keep up. I went into this knowing the meaning of acronyms like TPP and NAFTA. A young woman handed me a bingo board with instructions to mark a spot on it whenever the word on the spot was said. Among the words were “terrorism,” “Mexico,” “Obama,” “NAFTA,” and “emails.” There was popcorn out on a table, along with refreshments. I grabbed my popcorn and took my seat among my excitedly chattering peers.
The debate began and the lights went down. People (including me) gasped in excitement as the candidates walked out and laughed as they shook hands cordially. It was hilarious; they didn’t even look as though they wanted to tear each other to shreds. Worry not, they did that later – with their words. With every Trump interruption, a collective laugh resounded in the room. With every snide comment, people OOHed and AAHed and laughed and BOOed. The peanut gallery served as good company; they weren’t so loud as to make it hard to hear the debate. Best of all, I was part of it. There I was, OOHing and AAHing right along, excitedly marking my bingo board. I did not win, but it was an incredibly enjoyable event, and as the debate came to a close I found myself wishing there was more.