WILBERFORCE, Ohio — Central State University played host Monday to two debates featuring the Republican and Democratic candidates vying for Sen. Rob Portman’s senate seat.
On a day full of political discourse, students and staff at Central State hope the events help spur political engagement across campus and bring renewed attention to the needs of young people across the state.
Cornelius Steward, a political science student at Central State, helped organize the day's events and guide visitors through his campus. He said the debates were a great opportunity both for him and fellow classmates as well as the community to gain a new perspective.
“I thought it would be important to get the experience and just come out and see what the candidates have to say, and how they represent themselves,” he said.
Steward said he wanted to maintain an open mind as he sat through both debates, though with a focus on international affairs, he said he was interested to hear the candidates' thoughts on the war in Ukraine and other global issues.
“I really don’t know what to expect,” he said going into the debates.
After both debates though, Steward said he was surprised to hear both sides of the aisle find common ground when it came to Ukraine. Nearly every candidate spoke in support of providing humanitarian and military aid, but rejected the idea of boots on the ground or any intervention that would escalate the war.
“I think that they were pretty sound in their judgment,” he said. “I think that everyone’s on the same page for that one.”
Another issue he wanted to hear explored was voting rights. It was one he and his classmates brought up in their town hall ahead of the debate.
“The accessibility to vote especially across all communities I wanted to hear more on that particular topic,” he said.
Steward said he was disappointed the Democrats failed the explore the issue deeply. While it was discussed, the conversation focused on whether they would support eliminating the filibuster to pass current voting rights legislation. They did not, however, go into detail about what reforms were needed.
During the Republican debate, candidates discussed voting rights, through the lens of security, seeming to argue against accessibility. Steward wondered after the debate if the candidates could find common ground with his classmates, by listening to student stories
“It’s a pretty tough ask but I think it can be done and especially if they make some more streamlined modes of voting,” he said.
When the night came to a close, Steward said he was impressed with the evening’s turnout. He hopes his classmates and the campus visitors heard what they needed and will go into May’s primary armed well informed. His professor, Dr. Paul Schlag, the executive director of the Central State University Honor’s College, agreed.
Schlag said he hoped the event helped inspire many of his students to take a closer look at current events.
“Aristotle said the fate of the empires depends on the education of youth and I think it’s so important for us to have an educated electorate that knows the policies, but also knows what some of the consequences are of particular policies,” he said.
Meanwhile, Steward was impressed Central State had the honor of hosting at all, hoping it means the state is paying attention to the perspectives of students like himself.
“It says something about the political climate as it relates to minorities to have it at an HBCU,” Steward.
Central State University will host its final debate in this series by the Ohio Debate Commission Tuesday for the Democratic candidates for governor.