By ISABELLA ZACCARIA-JEFFERS – Digital Managing Editor
Presidential campaign speeches can be the most excruciating, dreary things to watch. They go on for what seems like eternity, and the candidates always end up repeating themselves on countless occasions.
To say the least, they simply aren’t exciting.
On Friday, April 12, during 2nd block, Advanced Placement Government teacher David Reynolds held a mock presidential campaign for his AP students in Mell Auditorium. My Latin class was lucky enough to attend the event. As we sat down in the front row, we examined the smear campaigns, or attempts to create a negative image of the other candidates, that occupied the little space on the front side of the stage. Suddenly, the microphone cracked and a loud voice filled the air, beginning the highly anticipated presidential campaign. “Hi, I’m Shreeva Adhikari, and you should vote me for president!”
As the candidates finished their speeches, their vice presidents followed with very intriguing “ you should vote so and so for president, because…” speeches. The crowd cheered when they agreed with a sentiment expressed by a candidate and applauded for the well-made campaign ads displayed on the projector in the background.
Many of the ads were smear ads, only adding to the laughter throughout the crowd. Although the candidates undermined their opponents, they did so with an endearing smile and in the spirit of friendly competition.
I found the election to be entertaining, and the presentation to be visually appealing. Unlike many Presidential campaigns you see on TV these were actually rather fun to watch. I think all teachers should consider creating class projects similar to this one.
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Photos by Maria Velasquez