UNO has been offering a series of Debate Watch events that started with the first Presidential Debate.
Dr. Barbara Pickering, professor with UNO’s School of Communication, has been a part of Debate Watch for more than 20 years.
She says the public event is a part of the American Democracy Project and the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Pickering says she hopes to encourage more students to participate in the political process.
She says research shows that those who participate in Debate Watch have an increased knowledge of political issues afterward and are more likely to vote.
But Pickering says these events aren’t just for students.
"Most of our audiences have been the college students. From my perspective, getting them to a point where they’re watching a debate and actually seeing the candidates side by side, is a different sort of environment than if they’re reading internet sorts of material or seeing campaign commercials.”
Pickering says anyone is welcome to attend Debate Watch but shouldn’t bring any signs as it is a non-partisan event.
During the debate, anyone who wishes to can participate in discussion via Twitter, using the hash tag #UNODW2016.
She says using Twitter gets the students actively involved in the debate. The viewing of the final Presidential Debate is Wednesday, October 19th at UNO’s Community Engagement Center, Room 230.