About 30 Northwestern University students, many of whom will vote for the first time in a presidential election next month, gathered on campus to watch and discuss the debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. , J.D. Vance.
Abortion and immigration were some of the most important issues for students who gathered Tuesday night on campus to watch the debate.
About 30 students, many of them first-time voters, packed the Communication Residential College hall to hear the candidates talk about the issues and discuss the debate.
The students listened in silence as the debate began with a question about Iran’s recent attack on Israel.
They remained composed, until a question about climate change arose. There was laughter among the students when Vance said “let’s assume it’s true” for the sake of argument, that carbon emissions cause climate change.
That was one of the issues Timmy Woodward, 19, hoped the two candidates would address. The others were abortion and immigration.
“I think those are the most pressing issues, at least the ones that are creating the most division in the country right now,” the freshman theater student said before the debate. “I think the difficult conversations are the ones we need to have.”
Broadcast live from New York, the debate was moderated by CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, host of “Face the Nation.” The network had said moderators would focus on guiding the discussion rather than fact-checking.
Woodward, who lives in the swing state of Pennsylvania, is excited to cast his first presidential vote in this election.
“I think it’s a very important election. I’m fortunate to be able to vote in such a crucial election, and that my vote really matters,” Woodward said.
Before the debate, Hattie Saal, who will also vote in a presidential election for the first time next month, said she looked forward to hearing Walz argue with Vance about abortion.
“I doubt JD Vance is capable of having a meaningful conversation about the importance of abortion and bodily autonomy,” she said. “I’m curious to see how Tim Walz will present the topic.”
Saal, 18, a New York City native and social sciences and legal studies student, was also looking forward to casting her first presidential vote in November.
