Political Debates at MLWGS

by Sean Youngstone, Jabberwock Staff Reporter

The first of three planned student political debates took place in the MLWGS auditorium during lunch this past Thursday. The other two are planned for October 23, and October 30.

Each debate features four student representatives from the Young Democrats and Young Republicans.

"We'll be having people from a variety of different classes and backgrounds," said Kaitlan Lawrence ('09), president of the Young Libertarians club, which has taken on sponsorship of the event. The club's leaders hope that the debates will help foster greater student involvement in politics and the democratic process.

Thursday's debate featured oil and energy as the main topic of discussion, and the following two are planned to focus on, respectively, education and health care and foreign policy. The debate was attended by around forty students.

Both sides of the debate made it very clear where their stances were on energy.

"We have to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050," said Young Democrat member Peter Slag (’09).

Meanwhile, the Republicans argued in the defense of clean coal technology, nuclear power, and offshore drilling.

"We have to use the resources we already have,” said Lawrence, filling in for an absent Republican debater.

Before the debate, Lawrence expressed her enthusiasm about the debate.

"We're hoping that everyone will come out for it," said Lawrence. "We're really looking forward to a good time."

Staff Writer Charles Condro contributed to this article