With lessons from past, debate plans underway
Puneet Kollipara
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News
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According to Rob Wild, assistant to the chancellor, the University has been preparing for the debate since the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced that the University would be the host last November.
Wild, who is also the chair of a committee of nearly 50 campus leaders responsible for planning the debate, said that the University has made significant progress in preparing for the debate.
"We still have a lot of work to do before October 2, but much has been accomplished during the past five months," he said.
The committee, known as the Vice Presidential Debate Steering Committee, is vice-chaired by Associate Vice Chancellor Steven Givens and includes representatives from the Washington University Police Department, the Career Center, public affairs, facilities, campus life and athletic departments.
Givens also chaired the presidential debate steering committees for the 2000 and 2004 presidential debates at the University and draws on that experience to provide assistance and advice.
"A big part of my role is knowing the history and having been through this before. So I'm there to help Rob Wild with the planning," Givens said.
Members of the committee have met with the CPD twice, once in St. Louis and once in Washington, D.C., to discuss security, parking, accommodations for the media and the configuration of the Field House, the location of this debate and all previous debates held at the University.
"Many of the leaders of the CPD have worked with us on previous debates, so they know us and our campus very well," Wild said. "We have an excellent working relationship."
Givens, who is also responsible for providing arrangements and spaces for the media's use during the debate, said that a significant portion of space in the Athletic Complex (AC) would be allocated to the press to give it ample space to communicate the debate's events to the public.
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