While only 10 students got access to the debate between Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his Democratic foe, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, at Sacramento State, many of the students who were shut out didn’t throw in the towel and go home.

While fans rooted for the Hornets at the Homecoming football game Saturday night and partisan rallies were at their crescendo, more than 100 students flocked to the traditionally commuter campus to view a live screening of the debate, partaking in discussions with peers on issues important to them.

During the debate, students booed when Angelides noted the continual climb of tuition and fees under the Schwarzenegger administration and clapped following his promises to bring tuition down.

“Now it takes $2,000 more to get a degree from the CSU,” Angelides said.

Gov. Schwarzenegger countered, saying former Gov. Gray Davis raised tuition 40 percent while Angelides did nothing to stop the fee hike.

Higher education issues popped up throughout the debate, with Angelides promoting education as a way to better California’s economy.

Students from University of California and California State University colleges gathered at Sac State’s Outdoor Theatre near Capistrano Hall, while at the same time about eight other screenings were happening at other California colleges, some with politicians and guest speakers in attendance, said Ruth Obel-Jorgensen, UC Student Association organizing director.

The California Student Vote Coalition ?” a consortium composed of the UC Student Association, the California State Student Association, the California Student Public Interest Research Group, the League of Young Voters and the Voter Registration and Education Project ?” hosted the event as part of its voter registration, education and turnout efforts in the run-up to the Nov. 7 election.

The coalition ?” created during the summer ?” is nonpartisan and aims to pull together assets of the different groups to “sharpen the focus of education and mobilization,” said Bill Shiebler, UCSA president.

Jeremy Mills, chair of legislative affairs at CSU San Marcos, said the coalition took the individual voting efforts of the different groups and strengthened them by uniting them.

“I think tonight will be a success,” said Shiebler, who attends UC Santa Barbara. “We want to send a message that students are listening and engaged.”

The point of the rally was not to tip students’ preferences in favor of one party over another, but to embolden them to make a decision on their own, Shiebler said.

Percentage-wise, the coalition seeks to beat the high 2003 recall turnout, which compelled 45 percent of young adults to vote. Already, the coalition has registered more than 10,000 voters statewide.

While students enjoyed free Round Table Pizza and staked out spots on tarps and blankets in front of the large screen, “Get-Out-the-Vote” booths promoted voter registration. A blow-up boxing ring provided entertainment and a group of students gathered, chanting and encouraging the governor to sign a law that would enable illegal immigrants to participate in student aid programs. Gov. Schwarzenegger recently vetoed a bill that addressed this issue.

Jose Montoya, a Sac State government major, said he came to participate in the day’s events to express his opinions.

“Politicians think we have no voice,” Montoya said, adding that students have strength in numbers, pointing to the record of 550 voters Sac State registered in the past three days.

Fellow Sac State debate team captains, government major Chantel Crane and communications major Brooke Boehning, attended the debate in support of Angelides.

“I think the debate is key,” Crane said, suggesting she didn’t like the informal setup that barred candidates from making opening statements and allowed them to talk without time restraints.

Boehning said she was upset at the lack of student seating inside Capistrano Hall, which she said “devalues students.”

Miguel Cervantes, secretary of state affairs for Associated Students Inc., who helped put the event together, said he hoped the event would send a message to politicians that higher education policies are important to young voters.

While Angelides supporters made up most of the crowd, students wearing orange and green Schwarzenegger T-shirts expressed equal enthusiasm.

Wendy Booth, a Sac State humanities major, said she liked Gov. Schwarzenegger’s attempt at lightening up the debate through humor. “I know what to expect from him,” Booth said.

Max Mikalonis, a genetics major from UC Davis, said, “They’re both really trying to speak to their choirs. I enjoyed it, but I don’t think they got anywhere.”

Many students agreed that the candidates spoke to their party loyalists.

Students from San Francisco State, UC Davis, UC Berkeley and UC Irvine, among others, traveled by bus and carpool to the event.

Some students, like those from UC Santa Cruz, journeyed hours, dedicating the majority of the day to participating in the screening event.

Foaad Khosmood, external vice president of graduate affairs at UC Santa Cruz, said students traveled on a bus for more than three and a half hours “to make our power known.”

The four-hour event concluded with departing words from ASI President Angela Arriola, who watched the debate in Capistrano Hall.

“I think the best part is it was held at Sac State,” Arriola said. “Tonight’s efforts were a result of collaboration between many students throughout the state.”

Event organizers from the coalition said goodbye by leading a farewell chant: “We’re watching, we’re voting” ?” which carried loudly into the night.

Jessica Weidling can be reached at [email protected]