University officials hope watching party will get students to the polls

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A large group of Purdue students watched the presidential debate together Monday night. University officials hope it will motivate them to make it to the polls.

Purdue's political science honorary society, Pi Sigma Alpha, hosted the watching party. With the debate focused on foreign policy, a foreign policy expert and political science professor talked to students before the debate began.
    
Faculty said it's important for young people to be informed because once they're informed, they're more likely to vote on election day.

"It's very important that students come out and learn about the issues. They need to learn about what factors are important to the candidates and how that might influence their votes," said Rosalee Clawson, head of the Political Science Department.

Clawson said students from many different organizations showed up, including some international students.