Vice Presidential Debate Brings Satisfaction to Students at Campus Watch Parties

Hundreds of students attended watch parties across campus to watch Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz face off Tuesday night at 9 p.m. 5 weeks before election day.

The Pitt News attended campus wake parties hosted by College Democrats at Pitt, Pitt voices and the Political Science Student Association (PSSA) to ask students for their thoughts on the debate as it progresses. College Republicans at Pitt hosted a private wake party off campus.

The two vice presidential candidates discussed it Business, immigration, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East And more in what is currently the last scheduled debate of the election cycle. Both candidates focused on political differences instead of launching personal attacks against the opponent.

As the evening began, students said they hoped to hear a discussion about relevant political events and ways the vice presidential candidates plan to support their fellow presidential candidates in the 2024 presidency. In the end, the students were satisfied with the performance of both candidates.

Student thoughts before the debate

Sam Podnar, a junior politics and philosophy major and co-president of College Democrats at Pitt, said she hopes the candidates will discuss policies that impact students.

“As a student, I would say that hearing is definitely a concern for me [about] reduce the cost of living,” Podnar said. “How they build a better economy for us, how they deal with student loan debt, the cost of college and reproductive rights — that’s something that a lot of people care about.”

Hannah Yomi, a senior English and communications student at the PSSA watch party, said she hoped the vice president debate would be different Presidential debate in September.

“I try to hear solid plans. I feel like listening to the presidential debate, it was a comedy show,” Yomi said. “I’m just trying to see an actual debate, not just the memes that come out of the debate.”

Daniel Jacke, a first-year environmental studies student at the Pitt Votes watch party, said he expected the debate would help students decide who they would vote for.

“I’m sure there are at least a few people on campus who aren’t sure who to vote for,” Jacket said. “And have [a debate] encourages these people to do so [decide].”

Reactions during the debate

In the middle of the debate, Ava Nicholas, a second-year political science student at the PSSA watch party, said she felt better about this debate than she did about the previous presidential debate in September.

“I think it's going a lot better than the first debate, just because both candidates are a lot more polite,” Nicholas said. “There's not that much cutting off of anyone, even though it kind of got that way towards the end, I feel like there are clear answers. They are much more efficient.”

Frank Postava, a first-year computer science student who participates in the Pitt College Democratic Party, expressed concern that candidates would dodge questions during the debate.

“There is a lack of answers to questions and that kind of drives me crazy,” Postava said. “That applies to both sides. Nothing is really being said and I think that needs to change.”

Final Student Thoughts

When the debate ended around 10:50 p.m., Tommy Berenson, an urban planning major attending the Democratic Party at Pitt College, said he thought Walz won and “seemed a lot more sensible” than Vance.

“I find [Walz] explained how he would competently serve as vice president. I think JD Vance was just constantly telling lies,” Berenson said. “When he was fact-checked, he complained that he was fact-checked even though he was being scrutinized by the moderators, which was their job.”

Jamie Hackney, a history major who attends the Democratic Party at Pitt College, thought the two candidates performed equally well in the presentation.

“JD Vance doesn’t seem like a smart idiot, but you’re kind of riding a curve because Trump is his vice president,” Hackney said.

Hackney highlighted the difference between this debate and the presidential debate in September, saying it was “much more focused on policy overall.”

Josephine Cantelmo, a political science student and PSSA vice president, appreciated the civility between Vance and Walz throughout the debate.

“I actually think the debate went well,” Cantelmo said. “Especially towards the end when they talked about their mutual respect for each other – I really appreciated that.”

Makayla Painter, a political science major at the PSSA watch party, felt the respect Vance and Walz showed each other was “the way things really should be.”

“I feel like we shouldn't focus on a winner here or there, but we should focus on the fact that these are two people who really care about the American people,” Painter said. “Whether you agree with Walz’s opinion or Vance’s opinion, it’s just important that they have clear goals and want to do right by Americans as they see it.”