The Kent State College Democrats hosted a viewing party for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday in the basement of the Student Center.

“Together we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and I can say with renewed confidence that the state of our union is stronger,” Obama said at the beginning of his address.

Erik Clarke, sophomore managerial marketing major, attended the event even though he is not a member of the College Democrats.

“What stuck out to me the most was when the president spoke about math, science and technology being the solution to bringing our economy back,” Clarke said. “I absolutely agree with that.”

Obama said he believes the ladder to the middle class starts with higher quality early childhood education. He said if the country starts better education early on it will lead to less high school dropouts, less teenage pregnancy and less crime.

Obama also spoke about higher education. He said people who seek higher education are more likely to reach higher-paying jobs, but college is too expensive.

“College’s must do their part to keep cost down, and we need to make sure they do,” Obama said.

This part of the speech resonated with Jake Green, president of the College Democrats and junior public relations major.

“As a college student, anything that can be done to increase the Federal Aid is incredible,” Green said. “College is way too expensive, and we all need the help no matter what our background is.”

Green also said about Obama’s plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $9 will really help out students like him.

The Kent State College Republicans did not hold an official screening of the speech, but Dillon Lloyd, the group’s president and junior justice studies major, responded to the address.

“What President Obama says is simply not true,” Lloyd said. “The promises he made tonight were made four other times in four other State of the Union addresses. His leadership—and the leadership of the Democrats—is failing America.”

Contact Abby Bradford at [email protected].