On Tuesday, Staff Writer Peyton Nelson attended the Vice Presidential Debate Watch Party hosted by the Barnard Athena Center for Leadership.

On Tuesday, October 1, Barnumbia students flooded into the Lynn-Chu Classroom to watch two Midwestern men argue about politics. Well, “argue” is a stretch. They are Midwesterners, after all (I say this with love. The Midwest is one of my favorite regions).

The watch party was hosted by Barnard College’s Athena Center for Leadership and was moderated by Mary Rocco, director of Engaged Scholarship, Community Engagement, and Inclusion at Barnard, and Jasmine Gates (BC ’25). Rocco and Gates introduced the audience to the Republican vice presidential nominee, JD Vance, and the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Tim Walz. Vance is currently a senator from Ohio, and Walz is the governor of Minnesota. 

Before the debate, Rocco asked the audience what they expected to get out of the debate. She wanted to know what issues the audience thought were important and for the audience to consider why they needed the answer. The audience members compiled a list of topics they wanted to hear about. This list included Hurricane Helene, the Israel-Hamas conflict, abortion, healthcare, the environment, veterans affairs, foreign policy, democracy, guns, and the economy. 

She also explained the stakes of this debate. Rocco stated, “In the course of the twentieth century, vice presidents have expanded their power to join and serve in the National Security Council. They also certify the electoral college. They’ve also expanded their abilities to advise the president.” She went on to describe how Dick Cheney and Joe Biden behaved as powerful advisors to their presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, respectively.

With expectations high and the stage set, let the battle of the Midwest Princesses commence!

As soon as the debate started, the shift in decorum from the presidential debate was palpable. Senator Vance and Governor Walz shook hands and both thanked their opponent, the moderators, and the viewers before speaking. The Midwestern sensibilities truly shone through. There was also a shift in the relevancy of topics, as the moderators referenced Hurricane Helene and the Iranian attack on Israel that had happened earlier that day.

Throughout the debate, the candidates often expressed their similarities in their views. They acknowledged the passions and care of the other candidate, and never spoke badly about each other as people. The only hint of animosity or distaste was when either candidate mentioned the policies of the opposing presidential candidate. In other words, Walz only said bad things about former President Donald Trump and Vance only talked badly about Vice President Kamala Harris. 

As the debate came to a close around 10:40 pm, every topic mentioned at the start had been discussed except veterans affairs, although there was mention of the GI Bill. What the audience thought was an in-depth list that had too high of expectations was truly a representation of reality and the issues that mattered across the nation. 

When closing arguments ended, Rocco and Gates came back out to debrief. There was a general consensus that this debate seemed like debates pre-Donald Trump’s first campaign in 2016. It was just two Midwestern guys being polite about policy issues. I felt like I was listening to two old men shooting the breeze on a porch in Wisconsin or Illinois. 

Rocco ended the event by reminding everyone to be prepared to vote on November 5 and informing the audience of the available events on campus to help register to vote. She also advised students to stop by tabling sessions in the Diana Center on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12 to 2 pm.

JD Vance and Tim Walz by Simone Snow