Town hall meeting draws crowds
Bryan-College Station residents out hours ahead to ensure admittance
By: Matthew Woolbright
Issue date: 8/26/09 Section: News
Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, is holding a town hall meeting in the Brazos Community Center on the topic of healthcare reform.
The Battalion has a team at the center and will be covering the events as they take place.
The first of the attendees arrived at the center more than four hours before the start of the meeting.
Similar town hall meetings across the nation have sparked fierce debate and produced large crowds.
A member of the congressional office said that they are expecting very high numbers and will do everything possible to accommodate everyone who wishes to be a part of the discussion.
The format of the meeting will be as follows, constituents write their name and county on an index card as they proceed into the main seating hall. Once the meeting has begun, the Congressman selects random index cards and those who are selected will have the opportunity to ask a question or voice a concern of theirs.
1,200 visitors will be admitted into the center and local radio station, WTAW 1620, is planning to be live on the air through speakers outside the center for those who are not able to get inside.
Fifteen minutes before the doors open, there is a line into the parking lot and snaking out to the street with people arriving continually. Attendees include people from all ages, from college students to senior citizens, many people have an opinion on how to reform healthcare.
Signs, custom tee-shirts and flags showing their possessor's opinion on the controversial topic dotted the line.
Several of those waiting in line are making speeches to whoever will listen and random exclamations from both sides are being shouted out.
The doors open in just over five minutes.
As the doors opened and the line started moving and the seats began to fill, two individuals did not move. They had not arrived late, and they were not working for the event. Jerry and Joyce Dyer were simply standing in protest, not shouting just holding a simple sign: "No to Obama's Healthcare."
The Battalion has a team at the center and will be covering the events as they take place.
The first of the attendees arrived at the center more than four hours before the start of the meeting.
Similar town hall meetings across the nation have sparked fierce debate and produced large crowds.
A member of the congressional office said that they are expecting very high numbers and will do everything possible to accommodate everyone who wishes to be a part of the discussion.
The format of the meeting will be as follows, constituents write their name and county on an index card as they proceed into the main seating hall. Once the meeting has begun, the Congressman selects random index cards and those who are selected will have the opportunity to ask a question or voice a concern of theirs.
1,200 visitors will be admitted into the center and local radio station, WTAW 1620, is planning to be live on the air through speakers outside the center for those who are not able to get inside.
Fifteen minutes before the doors open, there is a line into the parking lot and snaking out to the street with people arriving continually. Attendees include people from all ages, from college students to senior citizens, many people have an opinion on how to reform healthcare.
Signs, custom tee-shirts and flags showing their possessor's opinion on the controversial topic dotted the line.
Several of those waiting in line are making speeches to whoever will listen and random exclamations from both sides are being shouted out.
The doors open in just over five minutes.
As the doors opened and the line started moving and the seats began to fill, two individuals did not move. They had not arrived late, and they were not working for the event. Jerry and Joyce Dyer were simply standing in protest, not shouting just holding a simple sign: "No to Obama's Healthcare."
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