Loyola’s History Department hosted the Sept. 10 watch party of the debate between the two candidates for president.
Cuneo 210 was packed with all the seats filled, some students sat on the floor or in window sills craning their necks to view the two candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
The Sept. 10 presidential debate watch party was hosted by Dr. Elizabeth Tandy Shermer and Dr. Megan Sholar in Cuneo Hall.
Students both vying for extra credit or attending with friends flocked to Cuneo 210 after 8 p.m. and listened intently as the two candidates faced off. One would say something and the room would erupt in general discontent or excitement, then fade to silence or muted chatter as eyes returned to the screen.
Shermer, who originally proposed the idea for a viewing party, is a professor in the History Department and currently teaches a class on U.S. presidential history. Sholar is a member of the Honors Department and teaches a class on women in politics.
They said they reserved the space in Cuneo Hall, anticipating the event’s attendance couldn’t be accommodated by a smaller classroom. Roughly 125 students showed up to the event.
Shermer and Sholar said they plan to host an “election returns” event in the Damen Cinema on election night at 7 p.m. At the watch party, which Shermer preferred to think of as more of a “community event,” students had their pick of three different kinds of pizza and heard from the candidates they’ll choose between.
Some students came of their own volition, including a few of Sholar’s former students. Others were there for a class assignment. A number were encouraged to attend by friends, like fourth-year Kate McLaughlin.
“My roommate is in a class about the history of presidencies,” McLaughlin, and English major, said. “I decided to come with her to see how everybody would react to the debate.”
Viewership for the debate reached 67.1 million over 17 platforms, up from 51.3 million viewers for the debate between Trump and President Joe Biden June 27, according to the Associated Press. The national increase was reflected in the watch party’s attendance, where some students were left standing in the back after being unable to find an open seat.
“We didn’t think we would have this turnout, if Biden were still the candidate, but now there’s greater invigoration,” Shermer said.
During the previous presidential election, many current undergraduate students were too young to vote. In every American presidential race besides 2016, the two major party candidates were both men.
“It’s always exciting to teach this class during an election cycle, but having a woman as a major party candidate is even more exciting,” Sholar said.
Some students huddled with friends, turning to each other every time there was a lull in the debate to feverishly discuss what they’d just heard.
“I thought it would be fun to be around people instead of sitting at home and watching,” Rachel Leiberman, a third-year multimedia journalism major, said.
First and fourth-years alike pulled out digital bingo cards found on Instagram or TikTok and waited on the edge of their seats to reach bingo first, checking off squares as the candidates rolled off familiar monikers. Others sat alone with their juice and pizza, pulling out their notes app or a journal to jot things down as the debate progressed.
“It would be cool to have more events like this so students can get a better understanding of politics,” Emma Fath, a first-year theater major, said. “To get a better grasp of each concept and your own personal beliefs.”
Early voting in Illinois begins Sept. 26. Students who don’t live in Chicago can request an absentee ballot to vote by mail for local offices in their home state. Students can verify their voter registration on vote.org.
When the debate concluded, students left the room as lively as they had entered, discussing the merits of each candidate’s performance. Some lingered to talk with the professors about their thoughts on the debate.
“This was a great moment to see how a lot of people would tune in to this debate, and learn why they came,” Shermer said.
