by Hannah Hanson
“You walk into that debate hall, and I just got this overwhelming sense of excitement and giddiness, like I just got the best surprise birthday present ever. Everything was decorated patriotically and it was absolutely enthralling to know that I was able to be in the presence of so many influential and deeply respected people in this country… that feeling was like no other and I felt so lucky I got sit in that freezing cold room for 90 minutes and absorb all of it.” – Ally Werner, Communication Studies major
Communication Studies students inside Willett debate hall
There comes a moment in every Communication Studies major’s life when they are handed a once in a lifetime opportunity. The 2016 Vice-Presidential debate was that for many majors at Longwood University. As campus is returning to normal, the Communication Studies department would like to take the time to reflect over this life-changing experience for all of the students, staff, and faculty of the #COMMunity.
According to Macrae Hammond, the Special Assistant to the VP of Strategic Operations at Longwood University, approximately one hundred students, (over 10% of all the student volunteers) were from Communication Studies. These students were able to partake in making history at Longwood and got first-hand experience working with major news stations.
Ally Werner got the opportunity to work with CNN during debate day. Werner’s experience was the most amazing, yet tiring, moments of her life. She said, “No one prepares you for what it is like to work for one of the most influential media outlets in the world… the experience made me so much more interested in mass media. Because my interests will always lie with politics and communication, but to now to have another door to open is just really exciting.”
Taylor Tharrington and Drew Pelkey with Sen. Tim Kaine
Drew Pelkey is a senior Communication Studies major that was a student volunteer for the debate. She was placed as an usher in the hall handing out programs and showing people, like Rev. Jesse Jackson, to their seats. Pelkey spent her day walking around different news station stands, received free swag, and getting interviewed with her sorority by MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle. Pelkey said if she were to describe her experience in three words they would be “thankful, amazing, and eye-opening.”
Michael Castanon, another senior, was placed with Twitter on the day of the debate. Castanon was also featured on different Facebook and Instagram live video streams, including one for Longwood University. Castanon was fortunate enough to receive a ticket into the debate hall to watch the debate from the audience. He was so ecstatic that he was able to be there for the experience: “[it was] so surreal and awesome. I’m so happy I got to be in there for such a historic, once in a lifetime opportunity.”
These are just a handful of stories from Communication Studies students who were able to experience the 2016 Vice Presidential Debate firsthand. To say the debate was life changing would be an understatement for the #COMMunity at Longwood University.
And what do faculty think about what the debate provided students? Dr. Ryan Stouffer, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, best sums up this experience by saying:
“The debate was an incredible experience for our students, both in terms of getting professional production experience and witnessing first-hand the impact the media has on the political process.”