NASHVILLE (TSU News Service) – TSU will serve as the host institution for students from six Tennessee universities to watch the first round of the presidential debates on Wednesday.
Representatives from the University of Memphis, East Tennessee State University, Fisk University, the University of Tennessee (UT) at Knoxville, UT at Chattanooga and UT at Martin will join students and faculty from TSU via satellite feed at the Floyd-Payne Campus Center Forum for the debate beginning 7 p.m.
The Offices of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, the College of Liberal Arts and the Departments of History, Geography and Political Science, and Africana Studies are sponsoring the viewing and discussion with the other five universities.
According to Dr. Jame’l Hodges, Director of Student Activities at TSU, each school will have the opportunity to weigh in on the discussion on a big screen. The Universities’ College Democrats and College Republicans will have five minutes to describe what their candidate should talk about during the debate.
“I feel the Debate Watch Party program is an amazing opportunity for us to tap into technology in bringing viewpoints and discussions surrounding the presidential election across neighboring universities in the state of Tennessee,” Dr. Hodges said. “It also empowers and supports our students in being ‘in the know’ and to be well versed in discussing public policy and American politics.”
Pre- and post-debate polling questions will be administered through polleverywhere.com to provide feedback of each school’s views before and after the debates.
“I am looking forward to seeing our students take part in this opportunity and I am humbled to be a part of such a seminal project, “ Dr. Hodges said.
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With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university and is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top Universities in the county by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912 Tennessee State University celebrates 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu
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