In the McCormick Foundation Center forum, 84 cherubs gathered to watch the June 27 presidential debate and engage in a discussion led by debate expert Professor Emeritus David Zarefsky of the Northwestern Communication Studies department.
Students scrolled fact-checking sites as the debate played out on the big screen. For many cherubs, the discussion that occurred after the debate forced them to more carefully consider what had unfolded.
“Watching it as a group and seeing everyone put their head in their hands each time Biden misspoke was surreal,” said Sophia Bateman of London. “It was interesting to see everyone discuss who they thought won and whether they thought Biden’s performance was detrimental to his campaign.”
Bateman said she “loved” the incorporation of politics into the program’s curriculum.
“I used to live in the U.S. and being here knowing that I am going to move back here in a year makes the stakes higher,” Bateman said. “Being here has made me be more informed because we’re constantly talking about events and being updated.”
Leah Packer of Hinsdale, Illinois, said watching the debate as a group helped her “contextualize the experience” and understand why certain people care about certain issues.
“Climate change was brought up, which is an issue I care about but didn’t think to discuss,” Packer said. “In Illinois, we don’t have frequent natural disasters so it made me think that the person who brought up climate change probably lives in an area that is being more affected by the increasing number of natural disasters.”
News outlets including the Chicago Sun-Times, the Evanston Roundtable, Telemundo and NBC Chicago were also in the forum during the debate, interviewing multiple students throughout the night.
“Being interviewed made me think more about what was happening in the debate,” said Josephine Belfer of San Mateo, California, who was quoted in an article by the Chicago Sun-Times. “I had to reflect on the debate about a quarter of the way through and it helped me go into the rest of it with a more analytical mind.”
Additionally, cherubs were on campus when the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump occurred. The following day club presentations were delayed for students to watch Biden’s message to the country from the Oval Office.
Political conversations in the classroom inspired students to continue their discussions during free time.
“The second the news about the assassination attempt came out, at least half the boys immediately went to the lounge and started talking about the implications of the event,” said William Barrett of Bethesda, Maryland. “It’s so interesting to be surrounded by people who are similarly engaged and interested in politics.”
