Food wasn’t the only reason students showed up to watch the presidential debate party Wednesday night.
Students also got a chance to voice their opinions on the candidate’s talking points with two-sided signs with “agree” and “disagree” on each side to hold during the event.
The audience gazed on the screen while President Obama and Mitt Romney spoke about education, taxes and the economy and were asked to voice their opinions by tweeting about the debate using the hash tag #changethedebate.
Around 200 students booed, clapped and yelled for topics they either agreed or disagreed on.
Melanie Andrade, a 20-year-old English student from Polk County, Fla., is the Lead Organizer of the Dream Defenders on Florida A&Ms campus. Andrade said she joined the coalition in July and it has changed her life for the better and she wants the entire campus to be aware of its purpose.
Andrade also expressed the coalition is at multiple colleges and universities across the state including Florida State University and The University of Florida.
“We need more of a culture where we progress together,” Andrade said. “We need to bridge the gap between politics and students.”
Andrade also said the coalition combines youth and families in activism and civil rights.
Ciara Hart, an 18-year-old psychology student from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., said she was surprised that so many people attended the event.
Hart said that the one thing she can take away from this event is to, “always stay informed.”
Robyn McRae, a 21-year-old pharmacy student from Polk County, Fla., said events like these are important because they give people the opportunity to educate themselves on topics concerning students.
Gavin Molden, a 24-year-old business administration graduate student from Birmingham, Ala., said the event was a success, but there is still work to be done.
Molden emphasized that the student body can come together for an educational purpose.
“FAMU is still strong at the grass roots,” Molden said.