The Clinton-Trump debate drew a crowd of students during Pizza and Politics. Photo illustration of the debate.
More than 130 spectators snacked on pizza while Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump talked over each other, during a University of Memphis debate watch party dubbed Pizza and Politics.
The Monday night debate was the first time the two candidates faced off. Millions of people tuned in to watch the debate on Monday night. After Clinton’s email scandals and Trump’s business dealings, many people find it hard to trust the candidates. The campus event was organized by the Student Activities Council. The Student Government Association helped students fill out voter registration forms during the debate.
The U of M College Republicans and College Democrats set up booths with stickers, signs and even a cardboard cutout of Hillary Clinton.
The president of the U of M College Democrats for the past two years, Savannah Worcester, said that Hillary did a great job and held her own against Trump’s insults.
“She kept her cool and never really sunk to his level,†Worcester, 21, an Asian studies and international trade senior from Nashville, said. “She had a few jabs in there, but nothing that I feel like he did to her and countless other people he insulted tonight. At the end of the day Hillary is going to do what she can to help America.â€
Louis Focht, 23, president of the U of M College Republicans for the past two years, said that Trump made some good points during the debate.
“The debate was relatively smooth but soon turned into a bitter match,†Focht, an international studies and German language senior from Memphis, said. “He could have answered in a calmer tone, but his fan base loves his outgoing personality, so maybe that will work for him. I thought Lester did a relatively good job, but there were some questions that he could have brought up that questioned Hillary’s honesty and her policies in the Middle East. Those are things the American people are entitled to hear.â€
The crowd in the River Room cheered as Hillary Clinton talked about debt-free college and booed at Donald Trump when he said that Clinton did not have the stamina to be president. Students laughed at Trump’s side comments and Clinton’s one-liners.
