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>> Hi. I'm Jess Chen, class of 2012.
On Tuesday, October 11th,
Dartmouth hosted a Republican presidential debate.
I spent the day talking to fellow students about what it's
like for our school to play such an important role
in the upcoming presidential election.
>> I think it's really special that Dartmouth gets to be, like,
part of the spotlight
in obviously a very crucial juncture
in the political process,
and I really think it's a fitting stage
where this debate can be held.
You know, as a student here right now, I do feel, you know,
privileged to be able to witness something like this,
something so instrumental in the campaign.
I know each candidate's going to be talking
about their plans for job creation.
I guess as a, you know, soon-to-be college graduates,
that's what a lot of us will be focused on.
>> There are other things that I would like to hear about,
mainly what people plan to do with the budget crisis.
I think that's a little bit more interesting to me.
But then again, I'm mostly just excited to see the candidates
in person and see what kind
of impression they make at Dartmouth.
I think it's important for people to get involved.
I think it's not something that I would be as interested
in if the candidates weren't coming here.
So I think it's a good thing that they're here because,
you know, it's forced me to kind of become more aware
of the issues that people are talking about just
so that I can, like, be a good active participant
in what's going to go on today.
So I think it is important because all of us are
of voting age, and New Hampshire is a swing state.
So I think we kind of have a crucial role to play.
>> Looking forward to hearing Romney and Perry talk.
Foremost, Romney talk about his healthcare package,
and Perry defend some of his previous missteps,
whether it's immigration or just some
of the things he's avoided talking about, like the the F
and L in Iowa or just immigration.
I think it will be really interesting to see
if they actually answer questions that the audience
and the people around the nation want to hear about.
I think it's imperative that they talk about the economy
and also the foreign affairs,
which have also been neglected in the past.
>> Class has been very helpful in contextualizing the election
and the way that the electorate has changed
over the last few years and the kind of things
that people will be looking for.
For me, one of the really great things about this is
that it's really promoted a dialogue on campus.
People are talking about these issues
in a way I think they haven't been talking about them before,
and for me from a very detached perspective
as an independent, I enjoy all of it.
I'm just really engaged in the process,
and I think it's really cool to watch and see it pan out here.
>> I'm looking forward to hearing some
of the candidates address A.-- a kind of plan for job reform.
I'd like to hear someone
at least address a possible approach towards deregulation,
maybe a more libertarian approach
than we've heard so far.
I'd really like to hear about Social Security.
As far as spending goes, I'd like to see how they're going
to kind of decrease that gap
between government spending and taxes.
I understand that taxes are a really touchy subject,
but I'd like to hear someone say, look, I'm not going
to make any promises about taxes because you don't know
until you can get in there.
So I'd like them to at least be kind of reasonable about it.
You know, one candidate once said,
I don't think anyone should pay taxes.
Well, I don't know how that would really work
in the American economy.
>> I think because we are the next voters,
we kind of are the young voice.
We're the next people who are going
to make these new policies.
I think it's really important for students to get involved
to understand what's going on in the country
and to really help us formulate our opinions so we can make --
we can implement changes when we become the age
of making policy -- when we become the next
Washington generation.
>> It was definately a really eye-opening experience for me;
particularly, working so close with media relations
and then also the candidates.
I think it really helped me kind of see different perspectives
and kind of gain a better, more holistic understanding
of the economy at hand and kind of definitely figure
out where I stand in terms of policies.
>> After watching the debate,
I feel like I know more about each candidate.
Honestly, I'm independent in my viewpoints,
and there are some things I kind of disagreed
with a lot of Republicans on,
and the debate kind of swayed my thinking a bit.
So I'm thinking more about maybe voting Republican
after watching the debate now.
>> The debate -- being at Dartmouth is really good
for Dartmouth students.
It really gives us a lot of exposure to the --
to what's going on with politics,
and I think it was great to have it here and great
to get us thinking about it.