In Georgia Tech watch event, students say VP debate was 'civil'

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Students at Georgia Tech watch the vice presidential debate Oct. 1, 2024.

Credit: Sarah Kallis / GPB News

As Republican Sen. JD Vance and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz debated policy during Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate, college students across Georgia held watch parties.

Students at Georgia Tech watched the debate in an event space in the North Avenue student apartments as part of a nonpartisan initiative, "Wrek the Vote, to help engage Tech students with the election, and register to vote.

Wrek the Vote was sponsored by the Student Government Association and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. 

Freddy Wright II, a biology major, attended the event. He said he enjoyed hearing the policy stances of the candidates.

“I think it was a good debate," Wright said. "I think it was a little more civil than the presidential debate.”

The debate referenced Georgia twice, including the deadly Sept. 4 Apalachee High School shooting, and Amber Nicole Thurmond, one of two Georgia women who died from abortion complications after the state's six-week abortion ban was implemented.