Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Lorelle Lynch at lorelle.lynch@colorado.edu.
As the morning of today’s GOP debate kicks off, it seems like the campus is running normally — students are still walking to class, buses are running on schedule and protesters have yet to be seen at the free speech area east of Koelbel.
But as the day continues, the University of Colorado is gearing up for one of the biggest events held here since its inception in 1876. CU’s students have yet to understand how the Republican debate will impact their daily routine, or their political beliefs. So what are the general attitudes that students have toward the election?
Holly, a physics graduate student isn’t excited for the GOP presence on campus.
“I think that the fact that they’re not opening [the debate] up to students is pretty ridiculous,” she said. “And I actually read a NPR article about it last night too, how they’re only filling a thousand seats out of the 11,000 in the Coors Events Center. So I mean it’s kind of an unwelcoming situation and I don’t really feel like the students are allowed to be apart of it, and I don’t really support the university holding it.”
Ian, another physics student added to the overall upset from the student population.
“I’m just very disappointed in both the university and the Republican Party in general,” he said. “I feel like they’re boxing out a group of people that would ask important questions at the debate.”
When asked if he likes the idea of a viewing party for students, Ian said “It feels like it’s more of a consolation prize to have a viewing party, and that [the GOP] don’t care.”
When asking students passing by if they would be tuning into the debate tonight, many seemed uninterested in getting involved.
“I don’t think so,” said a passerby. “I’m not doing anything for the debate, it’s not going to be anything exciting.”
While the lack of tickets seems to be the biggest reason why students aren’t as excited for the debate today, not all students feel like the debate isn’t beneficial for the university.
“I definitely think it’s a really good opportunity for campus and it will give students a lot to talk about and get involved in the political campaign going forward,” said a female student walking across Farrand Field who asked not to be identified.
