Close up photo of UNLV band member outside at a Presidential Debate event.

Moments That Made Debate Day Ours

With CNN and MSNBC setting up stages along our academic malls, walking campus on Debate Day was a much different experience.

The CNN stage was dominated by political signs, with partisans of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, and Jill Stein periodically taking turns to marching into the area chanting for their candidates. One CNN reporter remarked that the crowd at UNLV was markedly different from those they encountered at debate sites in New York and St. Louis, with passions running hotter among supporters. As a public institution, however, UNLV does not deny community members access to the campus grounds.
The CNN stage was dominated by political signs, with partisans of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, and Jill Stein periodically taking turns to marching into the area chanting for their candidates. One CNN reporter remarked that the crowd at UNLV was markedly different from those they encountered at debate sites in New York and St. Louis, with passions running hotter among supporters. As a public institution, however, UNLV does not deny community members access to the campus grounds.
Of course, UNLV students showed their subversive side. The day before the debate, one student tried to get on the MSNBC broadcast with a "UNR, where's your debate?" sign. On debate day, two students marched through the crowd carrying signs that read "Friday is laundry day" and "I made a sign." When Trump or Clinton chants died down, they jumped in with "Laundry! Friday!"
Of course, UNLV students showed their subversive side. The day before the debate, one student tried to get on the MSNBC broadcast with a
The UNLV Star of Nevada marching band was a fixture at the CNN stage most of the day on Wednesday. The network contracted them to play during the broadcast, and they spent the week prior learning CNN's theme music. The Scarlet Dance Line added some sparkle.
The UNLV Star of Nevada marching band was a fixture at the CNN stage most of the day on Wednesday. The network contracted them to play during the broadcast, and they spent the week prior learning CNN's theme music. The Scarlet Dance Line added some sparkle.
An anti-Trump protestor had a head that was as elaborate as it was difficult to see out of — he frequently had to be led through the terrain.
An anti-Trump protestor had a head that was as elaborate as it was difficult to see out of — he frequently had to be led through the terrain.
Hey Reb! offered a more nonpartisan choice in mascots.
Hey Reb! offered a more nonpartisan choice in mascots.
Chris Matthews points to the crowd around the MSNBC stage. Right before "Hardball" started broadcasting on Tuesday, Matthews was chair-dancing to his own theme song. During the commercial breaks, he played with the crowd, noting "This is a good school. Back in my day we looked for two things: ratio and weather."
Chris Matthews points to the crowd around the MSNBC stage. Right before
Star of the second debate Ken Bone was at Wednesday night's watch event in the Student Union courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Always a fan of the Rebels, Kimmel was awarded an honorary doctorate from UNLV in 2013.
Star of the second debate Ken Bone was at Wednesday night's watch event in the Student Union courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Always a fan of the Rebels, Kimmel was awarded an honorary doctorate from UNLV in 2013.
Is that Uncle Sam or Hey Reb! on MSNBC's T-shirts?
Is that Uncle Sam or Hey Reb! on MSNBC's T-shirts?
The C-SPAN bus offered a place to watch the debate along the academic mall.
The C-SPAN bus offered a place to watch the debate along the academic mall.

Topics:

U.S. Presidential Debate 2016

You Might Also Like

On the Road with 'The Rebel Report'
female journalism student ready to broadcast for The Rebel Report
Campus News | July 28, 2026

Students in the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies test their video production skills out in the field thanks to a collaboration with the Las Vegas Raiders.

More about Campus News