According to a recent ABC News poll, over 40 percent of Americans cannot name the vice presidential nominees.

Though these two men are somewhat obscure to many Americans, Oswego State’s Community Services club hosted a vice presidential debate viewing event on Oct. 4. The event was an opportunity for students to educate themselves on the men nominated for the second-highest position in the United States executive branch.

The vice presidential nominees, Republican Gov. Mike Pence and Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, had their first and only one-on-one debate. The Community Services streamed the debate live in the Marano Campus Center and free pizza was provided for attendees.

The ABC News poll revealed that 41 percent of those who answered the survey could not name the GOP’s vice presidential nominee, while 46 percent did not know the name of the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

According to Alyssa Amyotte, coordinator of Community Services, approximately 35 students attended the presidential debate watch party a week earlier. However, only a handful of students attended the following vice presidential debate viewing.

Amyotte said the vice presidential debates typically do not interest students as much as presidential debates.

“The presidential ones get so much of the media attention, especially this year, but most years that’s the case too,” Amyotte said.

Amyotte said she thinks students enjoy a unique experience when they watch the debates with their peers.

“It gives them an opportunity to watch it together, so even if there isn’t an opportunity for discussion, it’s on a bigger screen and I’m feeding people,” Amyotte said. “They know that other students are interested in this thing as well, as opposed to sitting in their room watching it alone.”

Harrison Mark, a freshman, was among the students who attended both the presidential and vice presidential debates.

“I think it’s good to hear what everyone else thinks and just to watch it with someone and gauge their reactions,” Mark said.

Mark said he has “always been interested in politics,” which motivated him to try to find out as much as possible about the upcoming election.

“Everyone knows what the presidential candidates think and I think it’s also important to see what the vice presidents think too,” Mark said.

Nicolas Van Kempen, a freshman student from France, attended the debate viewing to learn more about U.S. politics.

“I still will be living in the U.S. for at least the next four years, so I think it’s important to know who’s running for president and what their arguments are,” Van Kempen said.

Tim Kaine won the debate in Van Kempen’s opinion.

“I think it was harder for Mike Pence to win it because he had to defend all what Trump said, even though maybe he doesn’t agree with it,” Van Kempen said.

Omar van Reenen, a freshman, has watched both debates so far. He lives in Hart Hall and watched the presidential debate there, but he watched the vice presidential debate in the Marano Campus Center.

“The vice presidential debate is just as crucial as the presidential debate,” van Reenen said. “You should consciously vote for who will be stronger together as a unit to lead America.”

Van Reenen is not a citizen of the United States, so he will be unable to vote in the upcoming election.

“If I was a citizen of this great union, I would wholeheartedly exercise my duty as a citizen to participate in the election,” van Reenen said. He encourages his American friends to vote “as this is the most consequential election of our time.”

A CNN/ORC poll found that 48 percent of debate viewers believed Pence won the debate, while 42 percent picked Kaine as the winner.

Van Reenen said some of Kaine’s statements stood out to him during the debate and contributed to his view that Kaine won the debate overall.

“[Kaine] stressed on the notion that we can build bridges instead of walls,” van Reenen said. “What stuck with me that Sen. Tim Kaine said is: ‘Do all the good you can, and serve one another.’”

Despite the controversial nature of the election, Amyotte said the viewings have been civil.

“It’s just strictly watching and I said to be respectful of those views and not make any rude comments,” Amyotte said. “Everyone was very respectful.”

Community Services will be sponsoring several more election-related events in October and November.

On Oct. 20, there will be a presidential debate replay. This debate will include discussion facilitated by faculty. The debate will be paused, allowing students an opportunity to discuss what they hear from the candidates.

Community Services has also planned an absentee ballot party and an election night party.