Fifteen employees at Gammage Auditorium had the opportunity to not only view the final presidential debate, but to help make it happen.
Drawn at random, the employees had to arrive early to prepare for Wednesday's event.
"We got to Gammage at about 12:30 [p.m.] and they told us what we were going to be doing," said humanities junior and Gammage floor manager Anne Thomsen.
After going through a security check at the Gammage entrance, the student employees began taking tickets, welcoming patrons and directing them around the busy lobby at 2:30 p.m., much earlier than Thomsen said she expected.
"Everyone was really excited to be there and really looking forward to getting in," Thomsen said.
An hour later they were briefed by the Commission on Presidential Debates and given tickets to view the event, something the employees said came as quite a surprise.
"We were given tickets to sit on the Grand Tier," said Jessica Brawn, social work freshman and Gammage floor manager. "I was really excited because we weren't expecting to get them."
Thomsen said the candidates and the commission made students and employees feel as though they were an important part of the event.
"The candidates catered to us when they began by thanking ASU and the bigwigs of the commission also included us beforehand, cheering 'Yay ASU! We're 5 and 0,' " Thomsen said, referring to the football team's win record this season. "They made students feel like a big part of the election process."
The employees got to share the room not only with the candidates, but also with celebrities who came out for the debate.
"It was amazing to be in the room with people like Jesse Jackson and Michael J. Fox," Thomsen said.
Brawn spoke with many politicians before the debate and was surprised to see how close the political families were.
"I was talking to a politician's wife and she said, 'I need to introduce you to everyone,' as though we were good friends," she said.
While rubbing shoulders with noteworthy political figures and celebrities was exciting, Brawn said that it was being behind the scenes that was the best part of working the debate.
"I got the greatest experience because I was behind the rope," she said.
Thomsen said working the event is something she will never forget.
"It was amazing to think that 15,000 students entered the ticket lottery and I was able to go because I got this job last August," she said. "I will always look back and see it as something I did in college that was incredible."
Reach the reporter at jenna.eckenrode@asu.edu.
