Washington U. students excited to host candidates

ST. LOUIS -- It was a busy week for Washington University students, but not because of an increased homework load. \nThe national media descended from above: MSNBC and CNN set up stages in the campus' center quad. Security levels went through the roof, and students were asked to keep a student I.D. on-hand at all times to prove they actually needed to be on campus. The transformed Athletic Complex interior, with a red-and-blue stage ready for to go live on all major networks, was virtually unrecognizable to some students.\nThe two men vying for the presidency, President George W. Bush and Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry, were coming to visit the otherwise peaceful private university.\nWash U, as its students casually call it, hosted the third presidential debate in the college's history Friday night -- previously in 1992 and 2000 -- and students of all political backgrounds were excited to be the epicenter of the political universe if but for a few hours.\n"Personally, the past week was consumed with a lot of organization, planning, hard work, media interviews, long hours and very little class," junior Nicole Soussan, president of the Wash U College Democrats, said following the debate.\nSoussan said her organization wanted to make sure students were excited to be in live audiences and interact with the media in order to display their support for Kerry.\nJunior Jackie Graves, president of the Wash U College Republicans, said the students on campus had been involved in a variety of ways.\n"The Student Union and other leaders on campus held a weekly forum called 'Educate Yourself,' which provided a panel of speakers on a particular topic and provided different viewpoints on particular issues," Graves said.\nFor the debate, Graves said the College Republicans had been trying to make their campus voices heard in the media. Republican students did a number of interviews, as well as holding signs and answering questions for live television broadcasts.\n"People have been really excited," Wash U junior Catherine Kelly said while holding one end of a gigantic "Kerry/Edwards" sign as she stood behind a live CNN show. "A lot of people have been getting involved between classes. We're very lucky to be here to see this in action."\nKelly said she was compelled to come out and demonstrate because she's been dissatisfied with the direction of American foreign policy.\n"I've been very unimpressed with the war in Iraq," Kelly said. "We need a change and need to win back our European allies."\nAaron Powers, a Wash U junior waving Bush/Cheney signs nailed to a piece of wood in front of MSNBC, said foreign policy was on the front of his mind this election season as well, but with a markedly different view.\n"Bush understands the most important thing is to take the fight to the terrorists, attack them in strongholds," Powers said. "Appeasement didn't work for Chamberlain, and it won't work now."\nPowers said he perceives Bush to be strong and steadfast, qualities he admires in a leader. He's not sure if Kerry possesses these qualities.\n"I know where George Bush stands, and he'll do everything he can to protect America," Powers said. "I don't know where John Kerry stands. He hasn't said 'I'm John Kerry, this is what I believe.' If Kerry came through with a definite plan, I'd listen, but all he's done is criticize the president."\nBoth Soussan and Graves admitted the campus has a clear left-leaning tilt to it. Demonstrating Kerry supporters outnumbered demonstrating Bush supporters easily on debate night.\n"Students view Kerry as a strong leader because of his personal military experience and his background and know that other nations will respect and work with America again with him as our leader," Soussan said.\nConservatives on the campus are a minority population, Graves conceded.\nBut Republican students are more involved and excited this year than in years past, Graves said, particularly because the close election has motivated them to help push Missouri, a notable swing state, into the Bush column.\nThe Commission on Presidential Debates, sponsoring this year's three debates, allotted tickets through a lottery to Washington University students. At least 105 students were able to sit above the debate and watch live, with student volunteers randomly awarded tickets throughout the week. \nOther students, such as Wash U junior and undecided voter Heather Jones, were able to watch the debate in large gatherings on campus in a performance auditorium and a large nondenominational campus chapel. \nJones said she liked the town hall-style format of the debate, and preferred it to the behind-the-podium style of the first debate.\n"This had a different feeling than the first debate," Jones said. "The nature of the questions was able to provide clear answers, which were more politically and emotionally charged."\nAlso, with a wider range of topics discussed, Jones believed such a format would be more helpful for an undecided voter.\nJones also said she felt it was obvious Bush was on the defensive and Kerry seemed confident on television. The debate pushed her closer toward deciding, she said, but she's looking forward to the third debate before she finalizes her decision.\n-- Contact senior writer Tony Sams at ajsams@indiana.edu.