University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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DEMOCRATIC DEBATE ts become a tradition for me as a University of Miami student to every few years witness a hoard of Secret Service agents swarm down upon campus for yet another presidential debate Within the f1rst month of my freshman year I managed to secure a position as a V01unteer for the Bustherry presidential debate helping oversee various events including the Rat Watch party and Vanessa Car1ton concert. Now, asa senior, I rece1ved a voluhteer 11promot10n and was stationed inside the BankUnited Center for the first presidential debate nationaHy broadcast in Spanish between seven Democratic candidatesr-Foro Presidencial Democraticaea collaborative effort between Univision and UM. As a journahsm major stationed in the 11media room? I was almost tempted to wear a11HIRE ME sign around my neck as I was surrounded by big names such as CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times. While the position was not the most glamorous, the fact I was there,beh1nd the scenes with the media, was a tradition that UM has held in high regard since I arrived on campus in 2004. With 17 million votes on the hue and a potential 44 million Hispanic viewers, I was witnessing history as questions affecting the Hispanic community were fielded in Spanish, translated on screens for the audience, answered in Enghsh, then broadcast in Spanish for Univision viewers. Many topics were covered,1nc1ud1ng education, hea1thcare, employment, the war in Iraq and even Spanish as a second national language, which gave Hispanic and non-Hispanic students alike a glance at the issues effecting the fastest growing m1nor1ty1r1 the United States. Students who are hot b11111gua1 were able to view a live feed from the BankUnited Center at multiple watch parties held at the Rat and various residential colleges. As in the tradition of any event attended by college students, there was plenty of free food to go around. The Lee Lincoln 1ot between Car1110 and San Amaro at Ponce de Leon thext t0 Mahoney1Pearson1 was a meeting place for candidate supporters before the forum. In 2004, only 400 debate tickets were offered to students and now, 111 2007, nearly 50 percent of the 3,500 audience members were students. In the years following my graduation, I can only imagine that UM W111 continue its growing tradition of po11t1ca1 fervor and student involvement. ------ 0 the event chose to MUST WATCHING Students t SETING UP CAMP Students wait outside the Bank United Ce seeing the leading Democratic Candidates.

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MIN - STORY BY ASHLEY DAVIDSON H IBIS STAFF PHOTOS BY MARISSA GUTHERZ AND SIMONE BERGER H IBIS STAFF NO LINES, NO HASSLE From the comfort of a Resident Mastefs apartment in the dorms, students watch the candidates battle it out. PHOTO OP The faces of the Democratic Party, Senator Barrack Obama, Senator Hilary Clinton, Former Senator Mike Gravel, Former Senator John Edwards, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Senator Chris Dodd and Governor Bill Richards.

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STORY BY GABRIELA CAMPOS N IBIS STAFF J M students had the opportunity to witness another presidential candidate forum on Sunday December 9th at the Bank United Center where, this time, the Republican Presidential Candidates made their opinions known at a debate sponsored by UM and Univision. llIt is great that the University hosts things like this, junior Taylor Longley, said. lit is also an opportunity to get to know the candidates better? Throughout the debate, the candidates agreed with each other and sometimes avoided answering questions on issues such as immigration and education. In the case of the controversial topic of immigration, all agreed that illegal immigration has to be stopped in order to preserve legal immigration, and that there should be no amnesty policy for those who live in the United States illegally. The first thing that has to be done is end illegal immigration, Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City said. Even though the candidates expressed similar Views regarding immigration and the development of a better public educational system, Congressman Ron Paul stood out when it came to his views on Venezuelanls president, Hugo Chavez, as well as Fidel Castro. v .pite the small turn out, students still took time away a the event. PHOTO COURTESY OF EVERITAS lWe should deal with everybody around the world the same way, Paul said. llWith friendship and opportunity to talk and try to trade with people? Hispanic viewers were also interested in the Republicans Views on the war in Iraq, since anti-war sentiment amongst Hispanics has grown in the last year. Once again Congressman Paul stood out when disagreeing with the other candidates about troop withdrawal and guaranteeing safety in the Middle East. llLetls come home as soon as possible, Paul said. As the debate came to an end, Congressman Duncan Hunter left students and guests with one last unifying note. Its a story of two parties, Hunter said. nItls a story of the party of freedom. Thats the Republican party? Even though the turnout on Sunday night was nothing like that of the Democratic presidential forum in September, as only half of the Bank United Center was full, UM students once again were able to witness history in the making. ll was disappointed by the crowd, junior Nikki UAddario said. nBrit it was great to see the candidates up front. PHOTO COURTESY OF EVERITAS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION Richard Parra, Kiah Barrette, and Russ Haws wait for the candidates to arrive for the Republican Candidates Forum.