Contact CU Independent General Assignment Editor Andrew Haubner at andrew.haubner@colorado.edu.
With under one week until journalists, political pundits and the general population converge onto the University of Colorado Boulder campus, Amy Runyon-Harms knew that Thursday had to be the day.
On a rainy morning in downtown Denver, Runyon-Harms, Executive Director of the political advocacy group ProgressNow, stepped out of the elevator to present a petition to Ken McConnellogue, the University of Colorado Vice President of Communication.
“We had initially planned to do it yesterday [Wednesday], but the rain dampened our enthusiasm for that, but we knew we couldn’t wait any longer,” says Runyon-Harms. “The debate organizers have a week to make a difference and to have a change of mind. We still feel that they have time.”
CU’s student ticket allotment has become a subject of local debate since it was revealed that only 50 tickets would be made available. That number has since doubled to 100, but some still think that the student body could be better represented. The petition handed in by ProgressNow calls for 50 percent of tickets for the Oct. 28 debate to be distributed to the students of CU-Boulder. McConnellogue, who received the petition from Runyon-Harms, summarized the position of the university, stating that the ticketing issue is out of CU’s hands, and that ticketing and allotment is subject to what CNBC and the GOP are looking for.
While this is true, there are many who argue that the ticketing issue highlights an overall disconnect between young generations and the electoral process. Aaron Estevez-Miller, spokesman of the student activist group #StudentVoicesCount, believes that it is a byproduct of a political, media-savvy system that doesn’t engage the so-called ‘millennial’ generation enough.
“There is a general frustration among young people, I think, that the political establishment doesn’t work harder to engage us and kind of assumes that there is no engagement from young voters and a general political apathy,” Estevez-Miller explains on the steps of the University of Colorado offices. “By continuing forward and assuming that’s how it’s always going to be isn’t very effective.”
With a week left until the debate, the collective wish of the 1200 signatures on ProgressNow’s petition will likely fall on deaf ears. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a silver lining. In the wake of the debate buzz, students have mobilized in unprecedented fashion, planning watch-parties, livestreams, panels and various events of activism on debate day.
“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity,” Runyon-Harms says of the debate being in Boulder. “If the ticketing debacle has resulted in more students becoming more involved and engaged, then I think it’s a good fringe benefit and I just hope that folks continue to remain engaged.”
Estevez-Miller’s group was founded in the immediate aftermath of the ticketing revelation, but its principle message is more substantial than demanding more student stubs.
“It’s become more than just getting the tickets, more than just getting inside the building,” Estevez-Miller explains. “Somewhat unintentionally, the university did create a meaningful political experience for students by frustrating them and forcing them to do it themselves.”
Some of those events include a watch party in the UMC, a pre-debate sponsored by AEI, an immigration rally on Farrand Field, a watch-party and panel hosted by #StudentVoicesCount, and several rallies and protests that will occur on the Koelbel Business Field. Runyon-Harms, along with ProgressNow, will be in Boulder, making their presence known along with the many students who most likely won’t be seeing the GOP debate in person.
“We do plan on being in Boulder leading up to and during the debate,” Runyon-Harms states. “We’re still pulling everything together.”
Estevez-Miller, along with his contemporaries at #StudentVoicesCount, will also be front and center on campus, broadcasting a live-streamed event from the University Club building.
While the rationale behind the small amount of student and general tickets will surely be debated long after this event leaves Boulder, it cannot be argued that the situation has galvanized students into becoming a central part of the American political system. Whether the planned events, and their projected turnouts, unfold the way organizers hope is still up in the air. But one thing is for certain: Boulder, Colo. will be front and center on Oct. 28 and, in one way or another, the student body will be too.
