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Justin Sutton, a junior in political science, laughs in response to a statement by a republican contender during the debate between Students for McCain and Students for Obama Monday in Daniels Hall.
Pack the Polls workers make final push to register students
Moderated by Michael Cobb, associate professor in political science, Students for Obama and Students for McCain debate Monday in Daniels Hall about issues affecting students in the upcoming presidential election.
Political debate sparks mixed student reviews STUDENTS FOR MCCAIN, OBAMA SQUARED OFF IN HEATED TALKS STORY BY DANIEL ELLIS | PHOTOS BY TIM O’BRIEN
Michael Cobb, associate professor in political science, moderates the debate between Joe PutnamEvans and Brett Little from Students for Obama and Ches McDowell and Jim Ceresnak (not pictured)
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grets the debate wasn’t as focused on the individual candidates as much as he said it should have been. Rather, the speakers for both candidates often resorted to blows aimed at the other side’s presidential nominee. “They were attacking each other too much,� Aspland said. “I thought they needed to be more about their own ideals and policies.� While many students had already made up their minds prior to attending the debate, some were able to reach their decision based on some of the arguments occurring during the night. “I wasn’t leaning towards either side coming in, but now I’m kind of leaning more towards Obama,� Devin Smith, a freshman in education, said.
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DATES TO REMEMBER Last day to Register Oct. 10 Mail-in Voting Sept. 15 through Oct. 28
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Voting registration deadline approaches Derek Medlin
tionally-televised debate, doing dates to show their positions and a poor job of dealing with many help the people to make a more of the pressing problems facing informed choice of who to vote the nation. for in November,� “I thought the fundamental Throughout the event, comissues facing America were not ments from Obama and Mcaddressed,� Garris said. “I had Cain representatives alike were hoped it wouldn’t devolve into met with bursts of applause and the personal attacks and mud- booing. slinging that it did.� “The audience was a bit rowdy In total, approximately 170 stu- sometimes, but that’s to be exdents attendpected with ed the event. that kind of Students were rhetoric,� clearly divided Students for on candidates, TECHNICIANONLINE.COM Obama repwith McCain View an audio slideshow of the debate resentative online and footage on Wolf TV Wednesday. supporters and junior in sitting on one international side of the room and Obama sup- studies Joseph Putnam-Evans porters on the opposite side. said. “Of course I saw it coming “I thought it’d be good to go mostly from the republican side. today just to show my support I wish my side had done it a bit for it,� James Pharr III, a senior more, but we weren’t supposed in political science and member to, so I’m glad we didn’t.� of College Republicans, said. “It’s Joseph Aspland, a sophomore an excellent way for the candi- in mechanical engineering, re-
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Lauren Wingard, a sophomore in business, laughs during the debate between Students for McCain and Students for Obama Monday in Daniels Hall. “I thought it was informative. I learned a lot,� Wingard said.
The Technician-sponsored debate Monday, featuring student representatives from Students for Obama and Students for McCain, concluded with a wide range of student opinion expressed over the debate’s success. “A lot of the arguments from both sides in the debate were unfounded,� Evan Garris, a sophomore in political science, said. “Many things I picked up on were just downright offensive and I think both sides should have brushed up on politics before they tried to put their two cents in.� Jim Ceresnak, a representative for Students for McCain and junior in political science, said he felt that not only was the event handled well by the moderator and managing staff, but it also served as a great outlet of information for students. “I felt like this was a really beneficial event for all N.C. State students and all young people in general because it was just so important that we all get involved and informed about candidates,� he said. The one and a half hour debate dealt with a range of issues, including tax policy, the war in Iraq, ethics, energy, climate change, social security and health care. “Regardless of how we feel about the issues, it was our job to be surrogates for the candidates,� Ceresnak said. “People were really focused on what we were saying. They were on their toes and no one was bored, that’s for sure.� Others, however, felt the debate was far from the quality of a na-
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Early voting and registration As Friday’s registration deadOct. 16 through Nov. 1 line approaches, workers in the Pack the Polls registration drive Election day Nov. 4 are preparing to make a final push to register as many stuEARLY VOTING dents as possible, director Ches McDowell said. LOCATIONS NEAR McDowell, a sophomore in CAMPUS political science and chair of the Pullen Arts Center College Republicans, said he has 105 Pullen Rd. been pleased with the efforts of Raleigh, NC 27607 Pack the Polls volunteers along with Republican and Democratic groups on campus. seen more groups who support “I know the GOP support- Republican candidates than ers have registered people and Democratic candidates but I I know Democrats have done have seen the efforts being made the same,� he said. “It’s been a overall.� great nonpartisan effort to get Leah Smith, a senior in hisstudents registered.� tory education, said she noticed As of Monday night, McDow- Democratic groups more in the ell said the volunteer registra- spring semester. tion drive had registered around “The most visible campaign, 1,000 students. at least in the spring semester, Kelsey Mitman, a senior in was Students for Obama,� Smith business administration, said said. “They really pushed hard to students need to be aware of the register people.� registration deadline because McDowell said the efforts of of how “crucial� the November both partisan and nonpartisan election will be. groups have made Pack the Polls “This is a huge election,� she and registration drives as a whole said. “It’s imsuccessful. por t a nt t hat “Separate people ta ke campaigns and some time to nonpartisans go get registered g roups h ave so they can vote down a great in November. job,� he said. It could have a “We’re pleased huge impact on with what has America’s fugone on so far.� ture.� Sm it h s a id While t he registration dead l i ne for drives should Kelsey Mitman, a senior in Nor t h Ca roa lways strive business administraton lina registrato be nonpartion is Friday, tisan. McDowell said Pack the Polls “Getting the most people to workers only have until Wednes- vote is the goal,� she said. “It day to receive the final forms be- shouldn’t matter who you supcause of fall break, which begins port. Republicans and DemoWednesday. crats should try to work together The final push to register stu- as much as possible to push students, McDowell said, will be dents to register and not necesdifferent than the previous ef- sarily push them to support one forts made by the volunteers. candidate.� “Our last push is going to inSmith also said registration volve putting registration forms drives are a good way to remind in classrooms,� he said. students of the importance of beMcDowell said students will be ing politically active. able to fill the forms out before or “I’ve talked to a lot of my after classes and volunteers will friends and they still don’t care make sure the forms make the about the election or registerFriday deadline. ing to vote,� she said. “Students Mitman said she has noticed should care about the future of different groups on campus at- the country. Students have no tempting to register students. reason to complain about the “I saw lots of people in the government if they don’t get Brickyard last week trying to registered and vote.� register students,� she said. “I’ve
“This is a huge election. It’s important that people take some time to go get registered.�
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Making change
A special Focused section about the election and the economy. See page 3.
Flag football playoffs begin
Thousands of students take to the field for IM flag football playoffs. See page 8.
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