The Northern Star sat down with three NIU students during Wednesday’s presidential debate in Tempe, Ariz.

The trio — two men and one woman — was asked to comment on and discuss with each other the issues raised by President George W. Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry. Before the debate, they said they were unsure who they would vote for in November.

During the debate, the students discussed topics ranging from campaign reform and education to mannerisms and appearance.

“Look at us. We spend half the time saying Bush’s face is [messed] up,” said Benji Brull, a senior political science major. Brull, who sat forward during most of the debate with his elbows on the table and his sleeves rolled up, said he has aspirations of becoming a humorous political commentator for National Public Radio.

Sophomore sociology major Kim Rehor joined Brull. Rehor took notes during the program for sociology extra credit and watched most of the debate in silence sitting with her chin in one hand.

“I think I’m like the typical college student,” Rehor told her male counterparts. “Everyone on my floor doesn’t know anything about this.”

Completing the trio was Buddy Avila, a sophomore jazz studies major. He said one of the top issues for him is an increased federal health-care system because musicians generally do not have provided health insurance.

“Either you get married and the spouse gets it, or you have to pay for it,” said Avila, as he sat with his feet on the table, wearing an argyle sweater and his blond hair down to his shoulders during the 90-minute debate.

From the beginning of the debate, the students fired off comments about what the candidates were wearing and how each of them acted.

“His eyebrows are usually normal,” Rehor said about Bush. “It’s never this bad.”

Rehor also kept commenting about how happy Bush appeared and how he smiled, even through serious issues.

On the issues

“I would base my vote, if I did vote, on the gay marriage thing,” Rehor said. “I haven’t seen a clear-cut difference on the issues.”

The three were equally critical of Kerry’s clear difference in stance.

“Kerry is very conservative when he’s trying to go for the votes,” Brull said. “He’s riding Bush’s coattails.

“I don’t like the terms Democrats or Republicans, ‘cause you can’t tell the difference anymore,” Brull said.

Both Avila and Brull thought the candidates were elitist and pretending to be someone they’re not.

Avila, who said one of the key issues for him was the environment, wants to see a decrease in fossil fuel consumption.

“Every time Bush talks about funding new research into energy, he talks about coal and oil,” Avila said.

Final thoughts

After the closing remarks from the candidates, the Northern Star asked the trio whom they would vote for. Brull was the only one old enough to have been able to vote in the 2000 election, and he said he voted for Green Party candidate Ralph Nader.

This time, he said he didn’t want to vote for either candidate because of a lack of a clear distinction between the two.

Rehor agreed.

“I honestly don’t know who to choose,” Rehor said. She then added she would not vote at all. The two men reacted immediately, encouraging her to vote for someone, even if it’s for a write-in candidate.

Avila said he would vote for Nader, simply because he believed he had the conviction to follow through on sweeping changes and was a candidate who didn’t start out with great wealth.

“That’s pretty bad if nobody likes the candidates,” Brull said.