People slowly gathered on the couches and around the tables in the CUB Lair, preparing to watch the first presidential debate between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Monday’s debate was presented in the CUB Lair due to its central location, drawing in passersby who might not have normally been interested in watching, said Ben Calabretta, associate director of the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE).

The CCE set up a table to give away t-shirts, stickers, pins and other swag labeled “Cougs Vote.”

The CCE wants to help build political awareness and participation, Calabretta said, and for people to be informed about election issues when making their vote.

Trump needs to be able to keep a lid on his temper or it will cost him the debate, said Gavin Pielow, president of the Young Democrats of WSU, before the beginning of the debate.

As for Clinton, Pielow said she will be successful if she can be persuasive on the issues and remain presidential.

Pielow said 15 members of Young Democrats attended the watch party.

Another watch party held in the Cub Senior Ballroom was hosted by Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., Omega Delta Phi, and Alpha Kappa Alpha, said Erik Sandoval, vice president of public relations of the United Greek Council.

Close to 500 chairs were set up in front of a giant projector screen. The watch party served free pizza and refreshments, and a number of booths for the sponsoring organizations were displayed, including a voter registration booth set up by Alpha Kappa Alpha.

The event, which drew close to 300 viewers, was designed to get people more involved in the political process, Sandoval said.

“We want to get people to come out and get educated on issues that are affecting them,” Sandoval said.

It is the first watch party put on by the council, Sandoval said, but in the next couple of years they hope to keep doing it.

Sandoval said the heavy marketing campaign contributed to the event’s successful turnout, which spread the word of the importance of the event.

Armand Hiebert, a viewer at the watch party, said Clinton seemed strong.

“I feel like Hillary has studied her audience better,” Hiebert said. “Trump is not pandering to his group, he’s sticking to often unpopular opinions because he feels that those are correct. He is basically a modern day Eisenhower.”