This past Saturday evening, the Greensboro NAACP chapter and the Political Science and Criminal Justice Department held a National and State Senatorial and Congressional Political Forum in the General Classroom Building Auditorium.

The program, sponsored by the Model United Nations Club, featured over 21 candidates running for eight different seats and was moderated by former Greensboro mayor Yvonne Johnson.

“The forum was altogether a success,” said Augustine Joseph, sophomore, political science major and president of the Political Science Club. “Candidates from both parties were participating. It was a great experience for Aggies here.”

Party representation was split evenly down the middle with 10 Republican and 10 Democratic candidates present. Michael Beitler, who is running for the United States Senate seat, was representing the Libertarian party.

Each candidate was presented 5 questions during the forum. Topics for all of the candidates ranged from employment to economic growth to immigration to the rising costs of college tuition. U.S. Senate candidates also discussed offshore drilling and reforming prisoners for society.

Each candidate was given one minute for an opening statement, followed by a one-minute response to a question from the moderator, a one-minute response to a question from the audience, and one minute for a closing statement.

To an audience consisting of mostly students, college tuition and the potential debt that follows many graduates well into their career was at the top of the agenda.

“I feel strongly about the increase of college tuition over the last 10 years,” said Evelyn Miller, democratic candidate for the North Carolina State Senate seat in the 28th district.

“Students are taking out loans to pay for college and coming out in debt.”

Miller and Marcus Brandon, a democrat running for the state’s House of Representatives seat in the 60th district, both had home court advantage being graduates of A&T.

The two front running candidates for the highly publicized U.S. Senate Seat, democrats Cal Cunningham and Ken Lewis, gave 30 second introductory speeches.

The event also featured guests such as Charles Brown (President of the Greensboro NAACP chapter), Tom Coley (President of the Guilford County Democratic Party), Ada Fisher (Chairperson of the N.C. National Republican Party), Syene Jasmin (Student Government Association President), Alton Thompson (Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs), Samuel Mosley (Chairperson of the Political Science and Criminal Justice Department) and Dominic Faison (President of the Model UN Club). Councilman Jim Kee served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

The forum took place on the third day after polls around the state opened for early voting. SGA President Syene Jasmin led a group of students downtown on Thursday afternoon to kick off the early voting period.

Jasmin incorporated his ‘1891 Pound Challenge’ initiative into the effort by encouraging participants to ride their bicycles and wear their fitness gear.

“We will make sure we do our best and continue to put our best foot forward for the university,” said Jasmin. “This administration still isn’t over and we will continue doing our best for A&T.”

The early voting period ends on Saturday, May 1st.

“Keeping American citizens informed is a major part of fulfilling our prophecy of democracy,” said Faison. “It’s the only way for our voices to be heard for getting the things we want, but most importantly, getting the things we need.”

• Malcolm Eustache