As the Oct. 8 presidential debate looms closer, many in the University community are hard at work preparing for its arrival.
The University will host the debate scheduled for 8 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Athletic Complex. This is the fourth consecutive time the University has been selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates, the event’s sponsor, to serve as a host.
“Even though we’ve done this before several times, our planning is intense and as detailed as ever,” said Steve Givens, assistant to the chancellor and chair of the Presidential Debate Steering Committee. “Our mantra has been that we can’t sit back and rest on the laurels of past debates. We’ve spent the summer getting ready and we’ll soon be ratcheting up our efforts to prepare for a hectic few weeks in early in October. We have every confidence that this will go well.”
More than 670 students and 106 faculty and staff members have volunteered to help with the debate. There will be around 200 student volunteer positions and an as yet undetermined number of faculty/staff positions.
Parking on the day of the debate will be an issue, as will security. University officials are working to make sure both run smoothly.
“We are working to accommodate the various parking needs of the groups involved,” said Lisa Underwood, manager of Parking and Transportation Services. “However, we do have very limited parking on campus, so alternate arrangements should be considered. We expect to have more detailed parking plans available soon.”
Don Strom, chief of University Police, said security will be a top priority for everyone involved. “We have been working since the debate was announced to develop a coordinated and unified approach among law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies to identify and prepare for any contingency,” Strom said. “We are confident we can make this a safe and secure event.”
Tours of the debate hall will be taking place early in the week of Oct. 4 and are open to the WUSTL community as well as neighbors and surrounding communities. There is no cost for the tours. Tour of schedules will be forthcoming.
The online debate ticket lottery for student tickets will open Sept. 15 and close on Oct. 4. Registrants will be notified on Oct. 4 as to whether or not they will be receiving tickets. Students can register for the ticket lottery on the debate website at www.debate.wustl.edu.
A special feature at this year’s debate will be a black and white photograph exhibit of past presidents of the United States at John M. Olin library.
Pictures of the Year International of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and the University of Miami School of Communication have co-produced the exhibit, which is being printed by National Geographic’s digital imaging lab.
Subjects include each American president from Franklin Roosevelt to George W. Bush.
Exact times for the exhibit have not yet been determined.
The University’s student body has begun to get heavily involved in the debate process.
The trio of graphic design students in the School of Art — Jessica Sonkin (from Washington Township, N.J.), Victoria Caldwell (Paducah, Ky.) and Ilana Breziner (San Diego) — designed the two logos for the debate, which have been approved by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Student Union is planning a new series, Educate Yourself: 2004. Weekly panel discussions will begin in September and continue through the fall until the presidential election on Nov. 2.
Each panel discussion will attempt to present all aspects of a relevant issue, allowing students to participate in all aspects of a relevant issue, allowing students to participate in individual student group events later in the week.
Topics will include foreign policy and homeland security, education, civil rights, the political process and economy and trade, among others. The forums are open to the public.