From left, debate panelists Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell, NBC4 Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey, NBC4 anchor Aaron Gilchrist, candidates Corey Stewart (R) and Tim Kaine (D), and moderator Chuck Todd, host of "Meet the Press." Photo by Katherine Frey/Washington Post.
Mason students were among those who took advantage of the opportunity to see politics in action in the Virginia U.S. Senate debate between incumbent Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican challenger Corey Stewart.
The debate, attended by about 200 spectators at the Capital One Bank headquarters in McLean, Virginia, and televised throughout the state by NBC affiliates, was sponsored by Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Virginia Technology Council. Schar School dean Mark J. Rozell was one of the panelists on stage with moderator Chuck Todd, host of “Meet the Press.” Other panelists included NBC4 Northern Virginia bureau chief Julie Carey and NBC4 anchor Aaron Gilchrist.
“This is an incredible opportunity for me to come here,” said Bekah Pettine during a predebate reception. Pettine, a government and international politics major, is Mason’s student body president. “It’s a great credit to our school and our program and our university. Most [students] don’t have access to events like this. As an undergraduate, to be here with working professionals and [Mason] alumni is awesome.”
Government and international politics major Tim O’Shea wanted to hear how the candidates answered questions about policies that concern him.
“I pay very close attention to the issues that this campaign has been about, particularly immigration, which has been a focus of mine for the last two years,” he said. “I really want to see the direction the state goes in on that, and this forum is the best place to see that.”
Noting that he could have watched the televised broadcast, he added, “there’s something different about being in the room that makes it more impactful, a bigger experience. I could not be more grateful that we, as undergrads, get the opportunity to come here and see this.”