Blom said he thought it was important for students to watch the debate.

“Without extra credit, they wouldn’t be here — they could be watching it at home, but it’s 78 degrees outside, you know?” Blom said. “Here, they’re getting exposed to (the debate).”
Though students went to watch the debate for the extra credit they were offered, many of them thought it was very important for students to see. Some said they appreciated the fact that the event was offered to their class.

“I think it’s important that the people who vote really at least know something about what they’re voting for,” journalism sophomore Zach Golder said. “You can’t just go in blind.”

Golder said he liked watching the debates because it put pressure on Snyder and Bernero, but worried people watching might judge them on how they looked or how charismatic they were.

“We really should elect them based on what they stand for,” Golder said.

Though some students disagreed, many believed Bernero was the winner of the debate. Of the 97 people in attendance, 63 students thought the Democratic candidate was the stronger debater.

Lyman Briggs freshman Arrin Johnson said she thought Bernero had the upper hand because of the way he attacked Snyder.

“(Bernero) had attack in his debate … Snyder took his positive approach to the debate, and I don’t think that was very smart,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she wished there were more debates so she could find out more information about the candidates.

“The truth comes out (in debates),” Johnson said. “I had done my own research, and Snyder had been in the media a lot but as far as advertising, Bernero hadn’t been in the media much.”

Journalism sophomore Kara Leslie said she is interested in politics and thought the debate was a good thing to watch, and she would have viewed it at home if the extra credit hadn’t been offered.

“Us being college students, we’re coming out into the fields and getting our careers started,” Leslie said. “Politics is important to the economy … (the debate) shapes how our state is going to be and will affect our jobs in the future.”

Regardless of the outcome, many students said they learned from the event and benefited from it.

“I feel it’s important for stuff like this to happen, especially with students,” Golder said. “I feel that all students should at the very least know what’s happening.”