Students watch the debate on the big screen in Triton’s Pub. Photos by Madison DeVore ’25
To kick off the U.S. election season, Eckerd College students gathered to watch the presidential debate in the Triton’s Pub to learn more about the candidates’ stances in preparation to vote—many for the first time—in November.
The Eckerd College Organization of Students collaborated with the EC Feminists club to put on Presidential Debate Bingo at 9 p.m., Sept. 10. The organizations livestreamed this discourse between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris and provided bingo cards for those attending the event.
Students stopped by the EC Feminists’ table to learn about current issues before grabbing a bingo card and free pizza to enjoy as they sat back with their fellow students to watch the debate. Laughter, applause and gasps filled the room as history played out on the big screen.
More than 30 students took part, reacting to comments made by the politicians as they crossed out boxes on their bingo cards. “One candidate is muted over four times,” “Anything about TikTok is brought up” and “Debate on women’s reproductive health goes over time allotted” were three of the squares on cards that potentially would be crossed out as they happened.
“I think it’s important for anybody to be politically engaged. It’s how we know what’s going on in our world,” said Executive Vice President of ECOS Caitlin Robinson, a junior psychology and pre-law student from North Andover, Massachusetts, who was responsible for hosting this event along with EC Feminists because they have many shared goals in mind.
Senior Nadia Plechaty, EC Feminists co-president (standing, purple shirt) speaks with students at the watch party.
“I think we’re very privileged to have access to speaking on what we believe in and hearing other points of view,” Caitlin added. “So bringing that onto campus is really important to promote these conversations and have those productive conversations.”
Caitlin was inspired to host a more casual yet politically focused event because she and her friends had played debate bingo before. Hosting a relaxed gathering where students could experience the debate in a group setting, eat free pizza provided by the clubs and play bingo was her way of introducing political themes to Eckerd.
Several students had come for both the entertainment and the political engagement. Sophomore animal studies student Ianna Smith, from Milford Center, Ohio, said it’s absolutely important to be aware of politics, as it affects our daily lives, regardless of “if you consider yourself a political person.”
“If you aren’t going to do it for yourself, do it for your neighbor,” Ianna said.
EC Feminists co-Presidents Nadia Plechaty, a senior sociology student from Littleton, Colorado, and Ariana Policella, a senior sociology and women’s and gender studies student from West Deptford, New Jersey, were happy with the evening’s turnout and thought everyone was passionate about the future of our country.
Two club members stressed how important it is for young people to stay involved with politics, “especially in times when our rights are being jeopardized.”
Not only did ECOS and EC Feminists want a large crowd at the event, but Caitlin said she suggests students conduct personal research on political topics discussed and familiarize themselves with other points of view, to then make more informed decisions.
The EC Feminists club, she added, is a great resource to learn more about what’s on the ballot right now, such as reproductive rights. At the event, EC Fems provided education on reproductive health and voting, stressing the importance of making your voice heard.
One of the bingo cards
