AP U.S. Government students gathered in the library to attend a watch party for President Donald Trump’s annual State of the Union Address on Tuesday Feb. 24, with the viewing being hosted by AP U.S. Government teacher Michael Cummins.
The event began at 5 p.m. and lasted until roughly 7:30 p.m., drawing between 140 and 150 students, Cummins said. Nearly every available table and seating area in the library was filled, and students watched the speech as it was projected on the library’s main projector screen, with additional television screens being used around the room for students who were seated further back inside the building.
“The event is just a part of being aware and informing people’s lives, especially if they are a good political participant,” Cummins said. “The point I’m trying to make is that even if I’m, or a student is no fan of our current president, it is still worthwhile to watch because of all the history and tradition from years past.”
Students attending the event were permitted to bring personal meals and snacks into the library, allowing many of them to watch the address alongside their friends in a more relaxed environment where they were free to discuss and engage with their peers on the politics unfolding in front of them.
“It’s like a sporting event for nerds,” Cummins said. “Will he say this? Will he complete a pass? Will Trump say this or that? For these events, we used to even have a bingo card before Kalshi was a thing.”
As the night progressed, students watched attentively as Cummins pointed out details in the broadcast, such as members of Congress and other important government officials who appeared. At several moments during the address, students applauded, including when Congressman Ro Khanna, the House Representative representing California’s 17th district, which encompasses Milpitas, appeared on the screen.
“That was Exhibit A of the nerdiness,” Cummins said. “If any other class was watching, and Ro Khanna’s face showed up, nobody would know who it is.”
Senior Ronald Chen attended the watch party and believed that the group setting made the experience more engaging than watching independently, Chen said. Attending the event allowed students with differing political views to engage with one another, Chen added.
“I think it provides access, and it’s a good way to encourage people to watch the State of the Union,” Chen said. “Even if they are in AP gov, they usually still wouldn’t tune into the State of the Union on their own time. My favorite part of this event was just especially seeing everybody come together and hang out.”
Being able to view the address in a classroom context allowed students to make more direct connections between the material discussed in class and the policies mentioned throughout the speech, Chen added.
“I think a lot of the things Trump says we learn about, like the constitutionality of things in class,” Chen said. “You can apply that to things Trump says.”
Senior Fisher Tam, who also attended the event, said that there was also an assignment that came involving the State of the Union speech. Students who chose not to attend the in-person event were required to complete a longer written assignment, though both assignments focused on summarizing the speech, Tam added.
“It’s mainly just basic questions to see if you were paying attention,” Tam said. “After answering those questions, there’s a summary portion with 500 words for us. But, this is where it differs from the people who watched at home, since they had to write about 1,000 words.”
Cummins said he hoped that events like this would encourage his students to view civic engagement as something that extends beyond just his classroom. Requiring attendance for this event also engaged students with a political event that they may not otherwise choose to watch on their own, Cummins added.
“My final statement: I’m proud of the kids for hanging in there last night,” Cummins said.
AP Government students attend State of the Union watch party
