Students Protest Lack of Tickets for UWM Debate

The national spotlight shined its bright lights on Milwaukee, Wisconsin Thursday night as the Democratic presidential debate was hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Standing outside the media center with a sign, as national and local media personalities flowed past, was UWM student, Oliver Edward.

“Cancelled my class, but thanks for the 25 student tickets for a 30,000 student campus,” read Edward’s sign.

He said he was excited at first about the debate but couldn’t get a ticket, commenting that they seemed to go to “bigwigs.”

He believed more tickets should have gone to students, especially since “they shut down campus. They caused huge disruption.” Edward said two of his classes were cancelled because of the debate: a bioprocessing class and, ironically, a class on world politics.

Standing next to him was Nicholas Stamates, a UWM freshman and history major, who is one of many young voters across the country who are fed up with establishment politics on the Democratic side. He feels a dramatic change in leadership is needed to solve issues that have deeply divided the country.

Both students felt the fact students were largely locked out of the debate (unless they got a ticket through a lottery system) was a sign of the establishment control over the political process that is fueling support for Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.

Michelle Johnson, media services manager for UWM, said, “My understanding is that the Democratic National Committee made 25 tickets available to the Student Association. UWM was not involved in the distribution of the tickets, as the debate is hosted by PBS and sanctioned by the DNC. You should contact the DNC for all questions about ticketing. I have received no complaints related to the debate in my office.”

Only two days after conceding defeat to Senator Bernie Sanders in the New Hampshire primary, Hillary Clinton enters the debate under pressure to perform well on a college campus, particularly since she has struggled to earn the support of younger voters.

“Bernie can unite the country if he cares about all the country, and I think he does,” said Stamates. “I don’t think Hillary can.”

That attitude represents a deep anger on the Democratic and Republican side that has translated into support for Donald Trump and Sanders who are seen as outsiders to the establishment political parties.

Senator Sanders has garnered the support of young voters as he has rolled out plans to make college tuition free, Medicare for all, and raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. His proposals haven’t gone without scrutiny as many pundits have questioned whether any of it is economically possible.

“I admit there is some idealism and maybe a little naivety with in some of the Bernie supporters,” said Stamates. “I do think, though, it’s not just I want free stuff; I just want a chance.”

Stamates said he also tried to get a ticket to the debate but he felt they went to donors.

Clinton will likely try to draw a line between fantasy and reality in Senator Sander’s plans as the two face off Thursday night.