BMCC Hosts Virtual 2020 Presidential Debate Watch Party

Social justice and equity, plans for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic followed closely by the economy and jobs, are three of the most important policy issues in the 2020 election season according to a poll of students who participated in the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) presidential debate virtual watch party October 22 on Zoom.

The event brought together more than 160 BMCC students as well as faculty and staff moderators who throughout the 90-minute exchange between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden led discussions and posed questions in the chat window.

Moderators included Political Science Professor Heather James, Health Education Professor Lesley Rennis, Criminal Justice Professor Shenique Davis, Office of Student Activities Director Harry Mars , and Director of Government and Community Relations Douglas Israel. Student Government Association (SGA) President Josiah Ramesar also served as a moderator.

The debate watch party was organized by the Division of Student Affairs and the SGA. BMCC President Anthony Munroe attended the event and after offering welcoming remarks, encouraged the entire BMCC community to exercise their right to be heard at the polls this year.

“Many students don’t believe their vote will make a difference, but recent history has shown that elections can be decided by just a handful of votes,” said Munroe. “By voting you are not only doing your part to influence the present, you are also affecting the future.”

Throughout the night, candidate assertions and claims were fact-checked by faculty and students.  A series of polling questions revealed that among other things, a vast majority of BMCC students plan to vote in person.

Of the BMCC students who attended the event, the majority plan to vote on election day November 3, while nearly just as many say they will participate in early voting at polling sites during the days leading up to the election. Only 12 percent said they had already, or plan to vote by mail.

“I was proud to be a part of BMCC’s first ever Presidential debate watch party,” said Doug Israel, who also helped organize the event. “There was a high level of student participation and we accomplished our goals to increase understanding of the policy issues at stake in the election and engage students in a meaningful civic dialogue at a time when that is sorely lacking in society.”

Students share thoughts on 2020 election

A few students shared thoughts about the virtual civic exercise and what they feel are the more pressing policy issues at stake in this 2020 presidential election.

Jon Williams is a liberal arts major who plans to become an attorney.

“The policy issues that concern me for the upcoming 2020 presidential election center around equality, racial injustice, health care, and taxes,” said Williams, who added he’s become even more politically engaged thanks to his class in American Government with Professor Heather James.

“I’m learning how important my voice is in this country,” he said.

The debate watch party “made me feel connected with everyone, including President Munroe, who addressed us early on before the debate started with encouraging words on the importance of voting,” said Williams. “I appreciated all of the moderators’ engagement with the polls we took by following up with links to informational information.”

Rami Paradise is a Bilingual Childhood Education major who hopes to become a successful educator and also pursue work with the United Nations.

“We have to deal with the urgent issues like COVID-19 and the global economic crisis,” said Paradise, “ We also need to remember global warming and health care.”

She said her participation in the debate watch party felt like an effective form of civic engagement and the polls helped her better understand what her classmates were most concerned about in the upcoming election.

“It’s important to educate yourself,” said Paradise.

Hui Ma is a Public Health major who plans to become a data analyst in the public health arena. She was impressed by the vigorous and thoughtful critiques that took place in the chat box throughout the debate.

“I think the economy, immigration and healthcare are the most important issues because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ma. “I know, many people are still paying a high cost for health insurance every month and I want to know if the next president make health insurance more affordable and so people have access to health care.”

SGA President Josiah Ramesar is an English major who plans to someday become a public defender and run for local or state office.

“I hope my classmates and peers who watched this debate really got to see the situation that America is in,” said Ramesar. “I hope students make rational decisions and do their research on both candidates before casting a ballot. Be sure to vote down the ballot and find out who your local representatives are as well”

Ramesar said he believes most BMCC students will participate in the 2020 election, because so many critical issues are on the line.

“BMCC is also blessed to have a large number of international students, and even though many of them can’t vote, they can help educate friends and families about how policy impacts their lives,” said Ramesar. “We are the future and can get into politics and even sway an election the way we want to. Who knows, the President of the United States might come from BMCC one day.”