On Tuesday, September 10, as millions of Americans tuned in to watch the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, students from across Duke gathered at the Devil’s Krafthouse for a viewing party of their own.
“This election is crucial for our country. And it is often divisive. We wanted to bring our students together, regardless of who they support. The spirit of the party was great. The students rocked,” said Alex Kirshner, Director of Undergraduate Studies for Political Science.
Sponsored by the Department of Political Science, several hundred students watched the event together. The event is now part of a tradition of election season activities hosted by the department. In September 2016, the department hosted a debate watch party at the newly opened Devil’s Krafthouse. Watch parties are special opportunities for members of the university community, including undergraduates, graduate students and faculty, to have a shared experience of democracy and democratic life.
A wide cross-section of student groups contributed to the watch party, generating buzz for the event and cheering for their favorite candidate. The party was made possible through the support of Office of Undergraduate Education, the Kenan Institute for Ethics, and the Duke Program in American Grand Strategy. Students pursuing a degree in political science often pursue certificate programs such as PPE and engage with programming from Kenan and AGS.
For more information about majoring in political science, visit: https://polisci.duke.edu/undergraduate