ISU’s Tweet Up was reported to be successful

Posted on January 21, 2015

By Terry James

NORMAL – The turnout for Illinois State University's Tweet Up on Tuesday night was acclaimed to be a success. The live tweet watch party for the State of the Union address was part of the American Democracy Project. ISU's assistant of politics and government professor Carl Palmer told WJBC News that many of the students took notice of the nonverbal communication.

The students took notice by the Vice President and Speaker Boehner sitting behind the president. Palmer says it was also interesting to watch the congressional reaction to the president noting that he had won both elections.

Palmer said, "In particular, Biden and Boehner's body language behind the president and looking to see when… Joe Biden has a representation of being very enthusiastic but there were moments when he seemed even more enthusiastic, and Boehner typically seemed a little more sourer and dower and so when he was clapping versus when he looked unhappy."

There was a discussion after the speech by students about whether or not the issues addressed by the president were ones the students wanted addressed.

Terry James can reached at [email protected]

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