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Contact: Jenni Brockman Phone: 804-443-3357 Fax: 804-443-6781 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE By Juliana Bush Tappahannock (November 1, 2004) - The excitement of the 2004 presidential campaigns reached St. Margaret’s School last week as students in U.S. History teacher Louise Velletri’s classes staged a formal presidential debate for the school community, and in the process, raised awareness of key issues. 
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Students at St. Margaret’s School took the first step in the democratic process—becoming informed—by participating a presidential debate last week. Students administered a mock presidential election for the school community on November 2.
In the first half-hour segment, Libertarian Michael Badnarik, Republican George Bush, Democrat John Kerry and Independent Ralph Nader, as represented by Stephanie Rosen, Caroline Arnold, Susannah Orem and Jessica Bailey, explained their political stances and outlined their strategies for education, the environment, stem cell research, Iraq and the war on terrorism. The candidates’ widely divergent views were especially apparent while discussing stem cell research. Representing Bush, Arnold stated repeatedly that stem cell research killed human life. As Libertarian candidate Badnarik, Rosen voiced her support for the research and equated the beginning of life with the act of breathing. Vera Attaway, Augusta Banner, Ashley Class and Katy Saunders and took the stage as Kerry, Nader, Badnarik and Bush in the second segment. In addition to responding to questions posed by moderator Velletri, all eight debaters also presented position statements. Velletri was proud of her students for “rising to the occasion despite their nervousness.” Judging by audience response, the debate was both engaging and informative. Junior Alle Davis, an audience member, described the open dialogues as both ”thought-provoking and awesome.” As a boarding prefect, Davis also mentioned that the debate aligned with student leaders’ goal of increasing awareness of current events in the school community. |
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