SPJ mock debate meant to inform, not argue

Mechelle Hankerson
Executive Editor

The night after the third and final presidential debate, VCU and University of Richmond students gathered to reiterate President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney’s policies in a mock debate.

VCU’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hosted the mock debate, with VCU’s Young Democrats president Vicki Yeorian and member Michael Plumb representing the Democratic side. University of Richmond student and intern for the Romney campaign, James Marconi, represented the Republican side.

Each side echoed the arguments and policies of the actual candidates, though Yeroian and Plumb also emphasized the importance of having a cooperative Congress. Marconi emphasized economic issues and how a strong national economy can address the issues, voters, and in this case, students, deem important.

“I think that it’s just the biggest issue in this election,” Marconi said. “Whenever you have an issue that affects everybody it just becomes second nature to deal with it. ”

And while young people tend to be more clued in to social issues, the debate welcomed questions from the audience via a Twitter hashtag, and students addressed a range of topics including foreign policy and the economy.

“I was actually surprised by the diversity of the topics we covered,” Marconi said. Between his work with the Romney campaign and closely following election news, Marconi said he did little to prepare for the debate, but was still caught off guard by a foreign policy question.

“Young voters clearly are not one-issue voters,” Marconi said. “Young people, more and more, are more open to all issues.”

Former president and current adviser to SPJ at VCU, Jalisa House helped conceptualize the event and said it was held primarily for educational purposes.

“I saw this as a platform to let students get information without the rhetoric, more stripped down (and) just talking about the policies without the personal attacks,” she said, referring to the televised presidential debates.

While the debate did touch on subjects like abortion, same-sex marriage and healthcare, they were handled in a calm —and timely— manner.

“I know that it was kind of titled as a debate but really what we had was more of a discussion,” Marconi said. “I think this sort of discussion format is much more productive.”

Like the televised debates, each side was given time limits. It also was set up to be a Twitter town hall of sorts, collecting students’ questions online for the second half of the debate.

House said she believes the event will help students feel ready to cast an educated vote come Election Day.

“When you vote, it’s your voice and it needs to be heard,” she said. “We wanted to empower students.”