1. The University of Denver will behosting the first of the 2012presidential debates.Most students feel that thisdebate has created a moreinformed and politically activestudent body.

2. I definitely think the debate makes students moreaware of the role they could have in the politicalprocess. I would also say that more students at DUwill actually travel to the polls on Election Daybecause of the feeling of political activism on ourcampus, said Kristin Van Horn, a senior at theUniversity of Denver. 3. Prior to the debate, students rarely confessed their viewsand therefore thecampus was left with animpartial air to it. Now,sides are becomingmore apparent andpolitics are taking to the forefront in studentsinterests, explainedKeirra Barnes, a DU junior. 4. Many changes have been made to the DU curriculum and courses offeredbecause of the debate. More classes educating students on politicalplatforms and issues have help students to better understand public policy. 5. The upcoming debate has led to a higher interest in the state of our country at DU and as aresult, students seem to have gone to greater lengths to make sure they are involved in one of the biggest decisions we make as a country. Barnes, a senior at DU 6. The student body hascontributedtime, money, research, andideas to the debatepreparations.The politically active portionof the student body hascontributed largely in theform of committees, muchlike the one featured to theright. 7. Raising voter awarenesshas been an integral part of the studentactivism on campus in recent months. I know many peopleon the board to helporganize and put on thedebate, and I have friends in both the DU Dems and CollegeRepublicans that have been spreading votingawareness.-Libby McCarter, a DU senior 8. Most students saythat they are morecomfortableexpressing theirpolitical affiliationwith other studentsbecause the debatehas fostered politicaldiscussion andeducation. 9. Tableing in the Driscoll Bridgehas given political organizations oncampus the chance to connectwith students who hold similarpolitical ideals.Many students have signed up tobe members of these politicalgroups because they are moreconfident in expressing theiraffiliation, whether than beDemocrat, Republican, Independent, et cetera. 10. Many students feel that this debate will maketheir education from DU more important aftergraduation. 11. Stephanie Winsor, head of theIssues Alley Student Debate Committee, has said I am excited that DU will be hosting this debate because it gavestudents without prior political knowledge the opportunity to educate themselves on the issues as well as enablingstudents like myself with a passion for politics to becomedirectly involved in the politicalprocess. 12. Because so many students have becomeinvolved in the debate and wish to attend,the University of Denver held a lotterysystem to make distribution of tickets as fairas possible.The ticket winners were announced twodays before the debate in front of Sturmwhile media waited to see the excited facesof those who won. 13. Students have beenhelping to compileDebate Watch kits for DUalumni.Alumni will be using thesekits while hosting DebateWatch Parties with fellowalumn, enabling studentactivism among thosewho have alreadygraduated. 14. Student access to campus has been increasingly limited asthe debate drawsnear, particularly with therestrictions placed by thegates surrounding the RitchieCenter.While some students express frustration about theselimitations, most say that thishas only built anticipation for the debate. 15. Students cannot ignore the political air about campus as they travelfrom class to class.The University of Denver has made the debate avery well known to itsstudents and the public.Many students believe that the debate willmake DU more nationally known andthat its effects are notlimited to the politicalactivism seen on campus.