Last Monday, along with the entire DU student body, I was obsessively checking my email to see if I was one of the lucky few chosen to get a ticket to the first presidential debate. The day came and went without an email and the realization sunk in that I would be tuning into this historical event from my living room couch.
Little did I know, that was not the end of the story. Tuesday night I received an email saying that I was chosen to attend the presidential debate. I was in disbelief.
I was told to arrive at the Newman Center at 2 p.m. Wednesday in order to receive my ticket. For 30 minutes, I waited in a long line of students anxious to see what the day’s events would hold.
Once at the ticket booth, located on the lower floor of the Newman Center, I presented a current government issued ID and was given my golden ticket. I was then asked to go through security conducted by Secret Service agents.
This included walking through a metal detector and having my bag searched. It was nerve-racking being in the presence of presidential security. After all, it’s not everyday that you encounter a bomb-sniffing dog.
After clearing security, I boarded one of three coach buses ready to take students to the debate. Because of the thorough safety precautions, all 250 DU students had to receive their ticket, go through security and board their bus before any of us could leave for the Magness Arena. The process took over an hour.
We arrived at the Ritchie Center at approximately 3:30 p.m. ready to endure the long wait ahead. The portico was filled with DU students as well as other guests, including local and national politicians who were all dressed to impress for the occasion.
The center was transformed into a presidential museum equipped with the biographies of each president in U.S. history.
Dinner was also provided before the doors of the arena opened, which to my surprise, was quite excellent. I enjoyed a turkey and bacon sandwich as well as hummus with pita bread and a blondie for dessert. Refreshments were also available throughout the evening, including water and lemonade.
The Magness Arena opened at 5 p.m. and an usher escorted me to my seat, which was located on the arena floor. I was both impressed and humbled that a DU student would be given the opportunity to sit so close to the candidates and among some of the most influential political leaders in our society.
After growing up seeing these people only on the television, I was surprised that U.S. senators and religious leaders, including Massachusetts representative Gale Candaras and Denver mayor Michael Hancock were anxious to talk to me about the process of getting a ticket as well as my thoughts about being able to attend this historic event.
Prior to the debate, the host Jim Lehrer briefed the audience on proper debate etiquette. We were asked to refrain from making any noise during the debate in order to not influence the people watching at home. We were also asked to turn our cell phones off, not just on silent.
Audience members had the opportunity to take photographs before the start of the debate, but the use of cameras with the exception of the media, was forbidden and strictly enforced by the Secret Service.
When the debate started, I focused on the different arguments of each candidate. President Obama, who seemed to be lacking enthusiasm and focus, failed to bring up some key points of his campaign, such as the importance of his health care program to the American people. Governor Romney was well prepared to defend controversial subjects involving domestic policy, such as his plan for adding more jobs to help boost the American economy.
This is the first presidential election in which I will be able to vote, so the opportunity to watch the candidates in person discuss crucial issues heightened the importance and significance of the election process to me.
