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Beta Theta Pi welcomed students to their fraternity house Monday night to watch the televised Senate debate at 8 p.m.
The debate featured the three main Connecticut Senatorial candidates: incumbent Joe Lieberman, who is running as an Independent, Democratic candidate Ned Lamont and Republican candidate Alan Schlesinger.
Schlesinger was the crowd favorite during the debate, with students often laughing at his sense of humor and witty comments.
"Personality wise, Schlesinger destroyed both of them," said Chris Kantu, a 9th-semester political science and history double major. "He was kind of like a circus side show."
"Schlesinger has won all three debates, but the national media is ignoring him," said Andrew Callahan, a 7th-semester economy and political science double major. "That might make more people vote for him, which would take votes away from Lieberman. In effect, Schlesinger's performance is almost ensuring a Lamont victory."
Of the eight students watching, it was unanimously agreed that Schlesinger won the debate.
"Every time I thought Lamont or Lieberman said something of consequence, Schlesinger calmly got up, grabbed a steel chair and smashed both of them in the face with it," Kantu said.
One of the most unexpected events of the debate was when a group in the audience loudly booed Lieberman after he called Lamont a liar. The group also sang a song which prevented Lieberman from being heard.
This was done again during his closing statement, at which point Schlesinger stood up and yelled at the people causing a disturbance, and the offenders were escorted out of the debate.
"I think the sound bite on the news tonight is going to be Lieberman getting booed," Callahan said.
One of the questions during the debate asked, "What percent of the information in your television ads is true?"
Although all of the candidates answered that their ads were completely true, Kenneth Knowles, a 1st-semester chemistry major, pointed out that during the debate Lieberman said he supported keeping the troops in Iraq, while a new commercial that ran right before the start of the debate stated the opposite.
The War in Iraq was one of the first issues raised and students disagreed on what they thought of the candidate's answers.
"I can't be decisive on the war because I don't think anyone has a solution," Kantu said.
"Lieberman is not going to change anything," Callahan said. "Lamont would stand up to Bush. Lieberman has not even questioned the course we are on now."
Many of the issues discussed in the debate allowed students to look at the candidates in a new light.
"I was surprised that Schlesinger said he would review that issue," Kantu said, referring to the topic of the military's, "Don't ask don't tell" policy regarding homosexuals.
"Schlesinger is an incredibly open-minded Republican," said Andrew Jorge, a 5th-semester history education major. "I thought he had good, original ideas on what to do in Iraq and with healthcare. He provided more practical solutions."
"I don't think Schlesinger has any chance of winning, but I definitely think Lamont showed up Lieberman," said Kelcie Walters, a 1st-semester psychology major. "Now that I know more about Lamont I support him even more."
After watching this final debate, three students said they were voting for Lamont, three students said they were voting for Schlesinger and one was torn between Schlesinger and Lamont.
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