By: Hana Hofeld

On Sunday night our class discussion started with my classmates as they had just returned from a Pete Butteigeig rally shocked at what they had witnessed. To my knowledge the rally started off with the paramedics coming for a fainting woman, next there was a crowd of black lives matter protesters protesting while Pete was speaking, and to top it all off a woman was holding up a ‘free Palestine’ sign in the back. Apparently this was not the first time Butteigeig had BLM protesters at his rallies; this has become common ground. Midway through the event all protesters were escorted out. Finishing off the class discussion on Sunday night, I was eagerly awaiting the next day, pondering what would be in store for those of us who hadn’t seen him yet at the second Pete rally scheduled for Monday in Winterset, Iowa.

Monday arrives and the first thing I notice as we enter the building is the amount of security. The large majority of the staff seems helpful and nice. One thing that stood out to me the most was the fact the stage where Pete would be talking was raised in the middle of the room surrounded by a curtain barrier implying that he’d be farther removed and that the event would be less intimate then all the other ones we had seen. I believe that the way everything was set up for Pete looked like he was about to do a stand up comedy show. There was a big corporate Pete poster behind the stage and in between it was an American and an Iowa flag that just didn’t quite look right. The whole time I was there, I was paying close attention to my surroundings since from what I had heard the night before, I was sure something similar was going to happen. Undercover security stood in the back of the room by almost all the doors.

Pete spoke and I honestly wasn’t impressed with anything he had to say. What I did find interesting was the way he interacted with our Elon student media post rally. After he spoke he took photos with audience members who waited in a long line to reach him. Elon’s student media made it clear to his campaign managers that they wanted to get in a question but Pete refused and walked straight b ignoring them. It wasn’t so much that he did this, but it was interesting because most every other candidate we saw were delighted to give students the time of day.

I was really curious about how my Pete experience would compare to my classmates the previous night. Though there were no protesters or extreme outbursts, it was interesting to observe and look for some of the things they noted the night before. It’s really intriguing to compare Pete’s campaign to other candidates who are polling higher. I think part of the differences between them are one, that the former mayor of South Bend has had past issues with the African-American community there, hence the BLM protesters, and two, I wonder how much of the strangeness of set up, security and control has to do with the fact that the people running the Pete campaign are rookies.

By: Erin Smith

1/15/2020

The most difficult part of writing this blog post for me is trying to condense down these past five days into just one post. Should I write about the mesmerizing Elizabeth Warren rally? Or the Andrew Yang event we went to that also fell on his birthday? I could also write about Morgan Radford, an NBC news reporter, who took the time to have an insightful and unbelievably honest conversation with a group of around 30 strangers. These examples only begin to cover the spectacular experiences that I could base this post on. However, I have no choice but to write about attending the Democratic debate last night at Drake University. I feel like I need to give my attention to the debate because I have not even began to fully process the fact that I was actually there. 

Right before the debate started, I wanted to post a picture on Instagram of my classmate and I in front of the stage (casually showing off to my friends at home), but I could not think of a caption to fully articulate my feelings. Eventually, I realized the perfect caption was to simply put “I can’t even think of a caption at this point.” There have been very few times in my life that I have been at a loss for words, but last night was one of those times.

Along with two of my classmates, I was lucky enough to have been moved last minute to seats that were perfectly centered with the stage. I had an unobstructed and close-up view of the candidates and also a direct eyeline to the side of Wolf Blitzer’s head. The theater we were in, located at Drake University, was very small with limited seating. I felt like this allowed for a better connection with the candidates. In fact, my friend Kara and I were even able to get Vice President Joe Biden’s attention by profusely waving at him. He laughed and waved back when he saw us which lead us to freak out just a little bit. Also, we got two more waves/smiles from Anderson Cooper and an actual Disney princess, Mandy Moore. And this was all before the debate even started.

I was in absolute awe for the entire 5 hours I was in that theater. There were moments watching the candidates on stage, when I just had to sit back and try to take it all in. This debate was especially important to me because I got to see two intelligent, passionate, and confident women on stage as presidential candidates. Not only did Senator Klobuchar and Senator Warren hold a powerful presence among the majority of male candidates, but I feel like Elizabeth Warren won the whole debate. It was interesting to see the contrast between how she presented herself at her events and at the debate. Her rally was much more casual, energetic, and interactive than the focus and determination that she brought to the debate stage. I think in both of those situations she presented herself in a very approachable and presidential way. In the two times I have now seen her, I have learned just how passionate she is about what she is doing and how qualified she is to be president. At the debate, she was poised, unapologetic, and made some of the most impactful statements of the night. Her statement about the power that women candidates and women voters have to beat Trump caused a unified reaction of support from all of the women in the room; the energy was palpable. I will always remember that moment which even furthered my respect and admiration for her. 

I do not know if I will ever find the exact words to describe what last night meant to me, but I do know that I will never forget the way it felt to be in that room with hopefully the next president of the United States. I will be forever grateful to everyone who made last night happen– big shout out to Ken and Rich!

By: Lindsay Carter

Is there such thing as a non-alcoholic hangover? After the whirlwind that was last night’s debate, I could have sworn this morning that I had been hit by each and every candidate’s bus. To be a student in the debate hall surrounded by celebrities I had only envisioned meeting in my wildest dreams was easily the best experience of my life, but left me drained socially and emotionally. The candidates needed a day off, and quite frankly, so did I. Luckily, there was plenty of time to fall asleep on our two-hour bus ride to Iowa City. When we were dropped off in the middle of the University of Iowa’s campus with no clear itinerary, I became really worried about how I would spend the next three hours battling the below-freezing temperatures. However, Aileen’s grandma happens to live right down the street in Iowa City and was more than willing to provide stories and shelter for us.

And so off we went over the hills and through the woods to grandma’s house. Well, our Lyft went over the hills and past some shrubs, but it’s close enough for the purposes of this story. Dorothy Bell is not only the wife of Iowa’s first Poet Laureate Marvin Bell, but also an incredibly kind woman with many experiences from her travels across the country. Dorothy was so proud to show us her historic home, including a jealousy-inducing clawfoot bathtub, and all of the work that she and her husband have put into it (reference the picture below of her refrigerator). After chatting about my life plans and family traditions, Dorothy shared with us her experience caucusing in the 2008 election. Unfortunately, Dorothy has contributed to the greater narrative I have observed of Iowans choosing not to caucus this February. I don’t blame her for her decision, because she tends to be in Florida during the colder months. However, Dorothy explained to us that the caucus in 2008 was a fantastic experience because it was held at a local high school and every candidate’s voters brought in different types of food. Overall, she agreed with Aileen and I that caucusing allowed her to feel a greater involvement in the democratic process of electing a new president.

Seeing Dorothy’s enthusiasm for Iowa and the Caucus gave me some hope that Iowans truly recognize the political efficacy that they have. Nearly every native Iowan that I have met on this trip is choosing not to caucus for various reasons, but Dorothy understands. Perhaps the most surprising thing that I learned today was that Dorothy gets by just fine without a cellphone or technology. What must it be like to not read the news or be politically influenced by the computer in your pocket? Upon arriving back to our trusty driver Tim and the warm bus, I could only imagine not being able to listen to my favorite songs or browse twitter while I fell asleep on the ride back.  

By Morgan Behrens

Elon’s high ranking as one of the best schools in the country was one of the many factors that made me excited to attend school here. I knew that I wanted to do a study abroad program as it seemed like a once in a lifetime opportunity, and everyone I talked to who didn’t go abroad in college seemed to regret it. I, like most of my Elon peers, did my semester abroad in my junior year fall semester. I went to Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and I loved my experience and wouldn’t change anything about it. However, what I didn’t anticipate before coming to Elon, was how many opportunities that they provided to become an active global citizen while still staying in the United States.

In my time at Elon, I have participated in Elon in New York, Elon in DC, and now Elon in Iowa. If only I were in the com school, I could have gone to LA and collected the full set of Elon Study USA programs! While it is such a typical Elon Student to mentions “abroad changed me” at every opportunity where the option is presented, I tend to think that what I learned in my programs within the country had a more significant impact on my life. Did I absolutely have the time of my life in Ireland? Yes. Did I learn so much about the culture there and how it differs from my own? Yes. But what was far more interesting to me were the subtle differences between American Cities like New York, DC, and Des Moines.

People often think that the term “American” is all-encompassing, but for a country that prides itself on being a melting pot of different cultures, we often to forget about everything that makes us different, not from other countries but from each other. One of the things that was the most comforting to me when I first came to Elon was how everyone seemed to be like me; I felt like I fit in. While this is something that I will be forever grateful for as it drew me to attend Elon, I think it can also be incredibly dangerous. The half of the school that comes to Elon from 20 minutes outside of Boston, myself included, would have a seriously skewed view of what the United States looks like if they never venture outside of the Elon bubble.

The Elon Study USA programs have allowed me to escape the bubble, for a summer, a semester, or even two weeks at a time, while still allowing me the comfort of knowing I can return to campus eventually. I have learned so many things about the country that I could never have without these programs. By living in different communities, and meeting different people, I have become a much more engaged global citizen.

By: Victoria Egan

I am completely speechless after last night. Waking up this morning I keep thinking it was all just a dream but then I look at the pictures which only confirm it was all real. Last night, I had the absolute honor of being able to attend the CNN Democratic Presidential Debate at Drake University with my fellow political science students. We all dressed up and drove to Drake where we waited for over an hour to check-in, get our tickets and head into the debate hall. When I walked in I was in complete awe. Not only was I standing in the auditorium about to witness history but it was also the smallest venue a CNN debate has been held at. As we all excitedly took tons of pictures and waited in our seats for the debate to begin I just could not believe where I was sitting. I could see five of the six candidates on stage (Amy Klobuchar being the one I could not see) and was seated behind the three moderators Brianne Pfannenstiel, Wolf Blitzer, and Abby Phillip.

Promptly at 7 p.m., the event began and we heard from the CNN D.C. Bureau Chief, the head of the Iowa Democratic Party, the President of Drake University, the Mayor of Des Moines, the chairman of the Democratic National Convention, and a few other speakers. The floor director was great and I was able to see exactly how large live television broadcasts are run, something that was just as fascinating to me as a Cinema and Television major as the debate was to me as a Political Science major. The moderators were brought out first and then the candidates, one at a time. The first to walk out was Joe Biden who I could not believe was only 10 feet away from me as he walked on the stage. The former Vice President was standing right in front of me! I have already seen Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg speak over my time here but had not seen the other three candidates so this was very exciting.

The debate began and it was fascinating to watch it all unfold right in front of my eyes. When the candidates wanted to respond to another candidate they were instructed to raise their hands until they were called on by one of the moderators. It was interesting to see them trying to catch the eye of one of the moderators and it was especially fascinating to watch Bernie Sanders begin to get extremely angry when he kept raising his hand and not getting called on. It was also funny to see Joe Biden keep stepping back and moving around to try and avoid Bernie hitting him as he was talking with his hands. Tom Steyer just kept standing there with a huge grin on his face the entire time and when he did speak he looked directly into the camera. One of my favorite moments was when Elizabeth Warren called out all of the men on the stage for collectively losing 10 elections and for stating that she and Amy Klobuchar were the only two on the stage who have won every election they have run for. It was a very funny moment for everyone in the room except Bernie Sanders who did not seem thrilled about the comment. Additionally, when Warren spoke about being the only person to defeat an incumbent Republican in 30 years Sanders was taken aback and told her that she was wrong because he defeated an incumbent Republican in 1990. Elizabeth Warren then proceeded to do the math and corrected Bernie that she was right and that it has been 30 years. When Steyer called Pete Buttigieg out for being the only individual on the stage that was in this next generation who would be greatly affected by climate change, it also let out some laughter from both the audience and Buttigieg.

Overall, last night was the fastest two hours of my life. The time was up and I felt like the candidates barely touched the surface of numerous issues, something that Warren noted in her closing remarks. After the final applause of the night, the candidates came to the edge of the stage and off the stage where they talked with those of us who were there in the audience and took pictures with us. I was not expecting this to happen at all and figured they would just rush off the stage. Everyone except for Bernie stayed around. The night just kept getting better and better. I was able to meet Joe Biden who personally took a selfie with all of us from Elon, and his wife Dr. Jill Biden who was incredibly kind. At one point when Dr. Biden introduced herself, Joe said “Hi, I’m Jill’s husband” which was really funny. I then worked my way over to Pete Buttigieg, the candidate that I have been working for during my time here in Iowa. I was able to talk with him one on one and told him that I have been working for him here in Des Moines. He was very grateful and asked me where exactly I was working. I told him the specific office I was working in and how incredible his staff has been. I was able to talk one on one with him for a couple of minutes, something I never thought I would be able to do. A group of us continued down the line to talk with Pete’s husband Chasten who was also incredibly kind and talked with us about musical theater, a love of his. Although I did not get to take a picture with Chasten, it was incredible to be able to meet him. After leaving Chasten we got back on the bus and returned to our hotel where we once more ate a late dinner in the lobby, waiting for people to return from the debate. All of CNN has been staying in our hotel so we were able to meet Anderson Cooper when he returned, and the president of CNN. Amy Klobuchar also walked into the hotel and we were able to talk with her as well.

This night was unforgettable to say the least and it just kept going. Sitting in the auditorium was unbelievable and then watching the candidates on stage was followed by getting to meet the candidates. Once we returned to our hotel, people just kept walking into our lobby. My phone was blowing up with people texting me from middle school and high school that they saw me on TV. My family was sending me videos of us on CNN talking to Biden and taking a selfie with Biden. By far my favorite video that was sent to me was my one on one conversation with Pete Buttigieg which was live on CNN! I just could not believe it. The opportunities that this trip has given me have been endless and like no other. I am incredibly grateful to my parents for allowing me to go on this trip, to Elon University for providing me with the opportunity to even participate in a class like this, and to my professors, Dr. Dalhouse and Dr. Landesberg for all of the unforgettable experiences they have provided us on this trip. For sure, this will be a night I remember for the rest of my life.

By: Andrea Sheetz

Last Friday night I was sitting at the hotel bar with my classmates talking about how we spent the day at our various placements. As I described what exactly went into a precinct packet, my professor looked at me and asked, “Did you ever think you would know that?” Not in a million years. Before learning about this course, I never thought I would willingly spend 2 weeks in Iowa in January. Until we got here, I expected my days to be spent calling caucus-goers and standing in the back of rallies in evenings and on the weekends. Given my interests, I knew I would have political experience at some point but not to the extent of this trip.

            Little moments here and there have felt surreal, like meeting candidates, watching my peers interview political elites, and having people with careers at the top of their industry come and talk to our class. The moment I found out I would see the debate live was not one of these moments. Please don’t misunderstand me, I was still extremely grateful for the privilege of seeing the debate live, especially in such a small venue. Honestly, I thought I would feel the same about seeing it in person as I do about live sports: a cool experience but for analysis and actually watching, better on TV. I have never been happier to be wrong. Nothing has felt as dreamlike as debate night.

            The excitement started to build as my roommate and I danced while getting ready and the debate became our sole topic of conversation. When we arrived at Drake University and saw the security, tents, and other preparations, it started to feel like the big deal it was. There are no words to describe the feeling of walking into the hall, seeing the set, and realizing how close we were to the next Democratic nominee for President of the United States and their competitors. When my classmates and I were taking pictures and unsuccessfully controlling our emotions, we struck up a conversation with a CNN producer near us who remarked “you guys are crazy, but the good kind.”

            A series of very fortunate events led to me and two fellow classmates being moved from behind the moderators to the center section, where we had a completely unobstructed view of the stage. We then heard from everyone including the floor manager, who trained us on when to clap, to Tom Perez, the chairman of the DNC, and many other passionate and dedicated individuals. Periodically, I would look around, waiting for someone to tell me there’s been a mistake and my seat was actually in the back row of the balcony. But when 8:00 hit and the candidates walked out, I clapped, laughed, and cringed with them for two hours. From six rows back, all I could do was take it all in with tears in my eyes and wonder how I was lucky enough to be here. 

By Liz Crouse

Watching from my television at home, I never realized how real presidential debates were. I never knew that candidates frantically scribbled down notes as their colleagues spoke or that, during a particularly stressful question, a candidate may subtly wipe sweat off his or her brow. I never conceptualized how thick the air would feel when two candidates went head-to-head over a tense issue. I experienced all of those things and more last night.

If you’ve known me for a while, you may know that I am a loyal follower of National Public Radio. So, in true NPR style, I’ve put together my takeaways from the debate. This isn’t necessarily a list of the flashiest topics, but more of what I found most telling and compelling from the candidates’ responses. I’m by no means a political analyst, but through my untrained eye, here’s what the debate looked like and some of the questions it provoked in my mind:

1. The moderators, Wolf Blitzer (whose hand I shook!), Abby Phillip and Brianne Pfannenstiel hit the ground running by asking, “What makes you best qualified to be commander-in-chief?” This question brought out diverse answers from the candidates. Biden opened with “I said I made a mistake” when asked about his voting history, which, as a voter, worried me, and Sanders called out previous wars as wars “built on lies.” Buttigieg skillfully brought in his military expertise. But this led to a broader, more philosophical question: What is a commander-in-chief? Sanders would likely say it was someone who keeps his or her country out of war at all costs. But if war was necessary, would he step up? Biden’s Situation Room experience and Buttigieg’s time in Afghanistan better served them when answering a crucial question loaded with implications about what a presidency would look like under each candidate.
2. Sanders and Warren entered a prickly back-and-forth. In a “he-said-she-said” exchange, Sanders was accused of saying a woman couldn’t win the presidency. Warren came prepared, however, and deftly pivoted to a comparison of her and Amy Klobuchar’s undefeated election day records versus the somewhat spottier records of her male opponents who were sharing the stage. Warren’s strategic response shifted the question from “Did Sanders say it?” to “Can a woman win?” to which her answer was an unequivocal “yes.”
3. Money was finally a big deal. Here and there, recent Democratic debates have featured a one line attack about the expense of a plan or NAFTA. But in this debate, money became a headlining issue. The question, “How are you going to pay for that?” is more relevant than some Democrats wish to admit. Sanders was confronted about a lack of plans for paying for his Medicare-for-all, but he largely avoided the question. The candidates also entered into a segment of debate on trade in which Steyer held his own and leveled an attack on Buttigieg’s inexperience, citing the mayor’s three years as an “analyst” at McKinsey as his only business experience, to which Pete replied, “You demoted me. I was actually an associate, but that’s okay,” which extracted a laugh from the audience. Money played a role in this debate, but will it continue to be an issue of discussion?
4. Biden kept a low profile, and it paid off. Answering concisely and sticking to references to  his experience, Biden didn’t harm himself, and he made a few good points. While speaking only slightly more  than Steyer and less than all other candidates, he didn’t say anything groundbreaking, but given his numbers in the polls, he didn’t need to. Is Biden resting on his laurels or playing to his strengths?
5. At the end of the debate, the moderators threw curveballs at each candidate, asking them about a specific part of their campaign or history that could harm their election chances. Buttigieg was arguably hit the hardest but with the most expected question. He was asked about his lack of support from black voters, and he rebutted that those voters of color who knew him best supported him. I couldn’t help but think what the Black Lives Matter protestors who interrupted his town hall meeting two nights earlier thought about that. Steyer was asked about his fortune made in oil, gas, and coal, while he claimed to be against climate change so vehemently. He, in his own words, was the only candidate whose number one issue is climate change and justice.
6. Closing statements were (mostly) solid, but no one ran away with the debate. I’m guessing that those who had decided on a candidate didn’t change their minds. I’m in that boat. For those who were looking for a candidate to support, none of the top contenders threw themselves out of the running or completely convinced viewers one way or another. 

Those are my highlights from the actual debate, but the end of the CNN videography was just the beginning of the action. Warren refused Sanders handshake at the end of the debate. I figured she must have a really good reason. She doesn’t seem like one to start drama for drama’s sake. I am no expert, but I have been watching all of these people closely for the last eight days (and a year leading up to that). 

As I picked up my coat and prepared to leave, I was surprised to see candidates start walking into the crowd. First I saw Elizabeth Warren, who, in her true fashion, was rushing to get a picture with each and every person. Biden was similar, but he took the time to take a selfie with our class. 

The biggest, and (for me) the best surprise was how willing both Pete and Chasten Buttigieg were to stop and talk. First, I saw Pete, and after telling him I was working on his campaign, he responded with extreme gratitude. I personally thanked him for bringing the conversation of the “religious left” and mental health into the spotlight, two things I am extremely passionate about. After about a full minute of conversation, he agreed to take a picture with me. I told him I was shaking because he was “my hero” (yes, I told him that) and he said, “Why? It’s just me.” 

Chasten was just as kind, though he seemed slightly less comfortable being in the public eye. We talked about the campaign, and I thanked him for delivering an important message to the public. I also told him he was my hero. He agreed to take a picture too.

The conversations I had with Chasten and Pete humanized them so much, and I’m so grateful for that. Tomorrow, I’ll go back to Pete’s campaign office with a newfound understanding of who I am fighting for and why I am doing it. The work I do will be even more fulfilling, which I didn’t know was possible. My heart overflows with gratitude for what was the best day of my life.

By Liam Collins

I never stepped foot into the site of the last democratic presidential primary debate at Drake University, but I met some political celebrities of my own.

The first thing you need to know before reading this: I am a total political nerd. I spend most of my free time watching CNN or CBS News, or taking online quizzes to see how many United States senators I can name. So, I know a political celebrity when I see one.

After all of the political science students on our trip went into the debate hall to watch the show and two of our journalism students went into the spin room, the rest of the journalism students were off to cover where the stories were going to be taking place: Outside (in Des Moines in January, I might remind you). We were aware of three debate watch parties taking place: One for Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, one for Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, and one hosted by Young Democrats of Iowa. There were also protests going on outside the building where the debate was being held. We split up, and I ended up covering the protests that were being held.

We were filming a demonstration against the military conflict in Iran next to NBC News and Info Wars when I heard the speaker say, “where’s Turner?” I had no idea who ‘Turner’ was (or at least I thought). After a few moments, Ian and I started walking away toward a different protest. That’s when I heard, “Here’s Ohio State Senator Nina Turner!” Again, keep in mind that I’m a total political nerd, and while most people would have no idea who she was, I knew that she was an up-and-coming political star who was one of the first people to endorse Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the primary. I immediately turned ourselves around to cover what she had to say. She gave her speech, and then afterwards she started walking off when I asked her for a question. She brushed me off. I told her I was with student media, and she her head shot around and said, “sure!” and gave one of the best interviews I ever had.

We wrapped up there and headed to the Amy Klobuchar watch party. It was pretty basic coverage. We were looking for a story, while covering how the crowd was reacting to the debate. When it was over, we were walking around talking to the audience getting reactions when a man walked up to us and said, “if you want a good interview, talk to them,” and pointed to an elderly couple sitting at a table. So I asked them if I could interview them and they agreed.

“What did you think of Amy Klobuchar’s debate performance tonight?” I asked. “I thought she was dynamite!” the man said. To which, the woman responded, “Well, we’re a little biased, we’re her in-laws.”

After that fantastic interview where Marilyn and Bill Bessler told us about how much their daughter-in-law love her nieces and nephews, and how their son was a strong advocate for ending the death penalty, our night of star-gazing was far from over. In our hotel l

After that fantastic interview where Marilyn and Bill Bessler told us about how much their daughter-in-law love her nieces and nephews, and how their son was a strong advocate for ending the death penalty, our night of star-gazing was far from over. In our hotel lobby, within a 30-minute span, we would see Amy Klobuchar herself, CNN anchors Anderson Cooper, Chris Cuomo, and Van Jones, CNN reporter Nia Malika-Henderson, former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and as I was writing this we spoke with former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. And that was all in one night.

This trip has been a dream! The opportunities that an Elon education continues to afford is unmatched. It’s opportunities like these that remind me just how lucky I am to attend a university like Elon. Having the opportunity to speak, take pictures, and often times interview so many people to whom I look up, respect and are interested in learning more about is an opportunity we never would have gotten without popping the Elon bubble.