Presidential Debate Captures ‘Civic Imagination’ As Hundreds of Furman Students Watch Together

Roughly 300 people filled Daniel Recital Hall on September 10 to take in the presidential debate pitting hopefuls Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump against each other. Trump and Harris supporters alike offered a smattering of cheers and jeers throughout the debate, as the crowded venue took on an atmosphere charged with excitement. That enthusiasm in and of itself could be seen as a key takeaway from the event, Dr. Mai Nou Xiong-Gum, professor of Communication Studies, suggested.

 

“In my Civic Media class this semester, we will use this debate to review and apply critical thinking and media literacies, and we will reflect on this debate to think about how the issues discussed may or may not reflect our civic imagination—that is how we imagine ourselves working together as a group in the future,”

 

Dr. Xiong-Gum said.  “After watching this debate, it’s clear to me that, although our civic imaginations might differ, we are all at least interested in thinking about a future together.”

 

Furman student Emmie Barth of Dins Vote stood outside the music hall with information and links to encourage students to register to vote as they found their seats.

 

The 90-minute debate was preceded by a brief discussion led by Communication Studies’ Dr. Brandon Inabinet, who serves as a member of the advisory group for On Discourse, a university initiative committed to encouraging intelligent civil dialogue across ideological differences. Dr. Inabinet primed the viewing audience with questions and thoughts about what debates can teach us, ranging from strategic approaches to ethics to the pursuit of truth.

 

That pursuit of truth loomed large for Mary Sturgill, an instructor and former award-winning journalist.

 

“I was watching how the moderators handled the debate rules and candidates and the real-time fact checking by Politifact from Poynter,” Sturgill said. “In addition, I have been watching the memes and stories on social media to see if they are on policy or personality.”

 

Local network affiliates Fox Carolina and WYFF 4 were in attendance, asking for debate impressions from some of the many students who opted to spend their evenings taking part in the important decision-making process of selecting the country’s next president.

 

Meanwhile, Furman’s Brent Nelsen, the Jane Fishburne Hipp Professor of Politics and International Affairs, joined WYFF’s Nigel Robertson on set to offer post-debate commentary.