Former presidential candidate Herman Cain came to campus tonight to speak at a forum organized by University of Oregon College Republicans.

The preliminary speakers of the forum included state Senate candidates Michael Spasaro and Kevin Levesque as well as House of Representatives candidates Christopher Gergen and Laura Cooper.

The candidates took ten minutes each to tell the audience their story and to show them why they deserved their vote. Many addressed the financial situation in Oregon as well as various problems with education. Cooper relayed her fight with multiple sclerosis and her struggle to support herself.

“I am doggedly determined – I know what it’s like to be poor, without hope,” Cooper said. “And I know it can be better.”

The audience also heard from Dr. Art Robinson and former College Republican Amanda Rudd as they addressed issues like funding for science departments and women in politics.

When Cain arrived he was greeted with applause and a standing ovation. Many attendants scrambled to take out phones and cameras to take photos.

Cain covered everything from the country’s economic situation to the job market in his time in Gerlinger Hall. He addressed topics such as taxes, ISIS, and the upcoming presidential elections. Cain also took the time to promote the campaign of Robinson throughout his speech.

Some of his opinions fluctuated throughout the forum. Early in the forum Cain claimed that liberals run from facts and lie to the American people, repeating the phrases “outvote the stupid people” and “save the savable.” At one point, while remembering a time when a Republican caller on Cain’s radio show said that he had been a Democrat at one point, Cain’s response was, “Congrats on coming from the dark side to the light!”

However, when one student stood up to ask a question and mentioned as a disclaimer that he was a Democrat, Cain’s response was to strip the label away.

“If you strip away the label, then we probably have more in common than you think,” Cain said.

One mantra that remained consistent was Cain’s advice to all in the audience: “Stay informed, stay involved, stay inspired.”

His sense of humor and natural charisma shone through his speech as well.

“According to the great philosopher Pokémon, life can be a challenge but you can make a difference,” Cain said at one point, adding that he originally “did not know Pokémon was a movie” which was met with laughter.

Cain stayed behind to shake hands with attendants and take photos with anyone who asked.

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On Oct. 8th, the GMO Voter Education Forum was held in Gerlinger Hall on campus. Students and Eugene residents were offered free campaign materials and complimentary Ciao Bella gelato as they filed into room 302. As attendants settled into their seats, panelist Bret Diamond, field organizer for the Oregon Right to Know Campaign, began the forum by discussing the history of GMOs.

According to Diamond, the first genetically modified food was a tomato in 1994. It was labeled as a GMO, which garnered suspicion from consumers, and subsequently there was no demand for it. According to Diamond, the reason chemical companies want to discourage the labeling of GMOs is to sell genetically modified food despite the lack of demand.

“How do you sell something no one wants?” Diamond asked. “Hide it.”

Dr. Ray Seidler, former senior scientist at the US Environmental Protection Agency, followed Diamond and focused on the dangerous effects of chemicals that these companies have been selling to American farmers. The forum also addressed the business side of the issue with panelist Kim Gibson Clark. Gisbon Clark recounted her experiences as both a mother and as a business owner and their roles in her decision to support GMO labeling. She refuted the claim that labeling GMOs would raise the cost of food to the consumer by speaking about her experiences working for Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss. Gibson Clark explained that label updates at Coconut Bliss cost 3/10 of a penny per unit sold, and would not raise the price to the buyer – refuting the opposition’s claim that passing Measure 92 would be costly to consumers

Julia DeGraw, Northwest organizer for Food & Water Watch, spoke last and highlighted the arguments of those who oppose Measure 92. Opponents of labeling genetically modified food claimed that in addition to being costly, the labels would be confusing. DeGraw denied this, adding that in grocery stores the labels are already confusing and misleading. For example, according to DeGraw the word “natural” can mean “GMO” but without specific labeling there would be no way to know.

Diamond said it best when he emphasized, “I can’t think of a more basic right than to know what is in our food.”

A short Q&A followed, but none of the questions posed to the panel involved any doubts about the facts presented or the benefits of labeling. Attendants asked about which foods would be labeled, how the laws would be upheld, and the specifics of the dangerous chemicals involved. Before leaving, the attendants were encouraged to take home gelato and to get their vote in by Nov. 4.

For more information on genetically engineered crops, attend Dr. Ray Seidler’s “The Truths About Genetically Engineered Crops: An Ecological Perspective” at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Oct. 10 at 7:30pm.

On Oct. 8, students and Eugene residents will gather on campus to discuss Ballot Measure 92 at the GMO Labeling Voter Education Forum. If passed, Measure 92 would require the labeling of genetically altered food, both packaged and raw.

According to Food & Water Watch organizer Neil Bartholomay, the measure is not a ban on genetically modified food but a matter of transparency and empowering consumers.

“GMOs are already labeled in 64 other countries and a large percentage of food in grocery stores today are genetically modified,” Bartholomay said. “Consumers should have the right to know what’s in their food.”

According to Bartholomay, the biggest obstacle is making sure voters know the truth about the issue before the vote in November.

“Our opponents have been saying that food prices will go up or that the GMO labels will be confusing, which is not true,” Bartholomay added. “It’s a simple issue. It’s giving information to the many people who don’t want to take the risk on genetically modified food.”

During the forum, the panel will discuss GMOs, labeling and consumer rights as well as answer questions from the audience.

The panel includes Bret Diamond, Field Organizer for the Oregon Right To Know Campaign; Julia DeGraw, Northwest Organizer for Food & Water Watch; Dr. Ray Seidler, Former Senior Scientist at the US Environmental Protection Agency; and Kim Gibson Clark, General Manager at Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss. The forum will take place at 7 p.m., in room 302 of Gerlinger Hall.

Francesca Fontana will be live tweeting the event for the Emerald. Follow us live to see what happens.

Follow Francesca Fontana on Twitter: @francescamarief