October may be months away, but planning for the upcoming presidential debate to be held at Washington University has begun, unbeknownst to many students and faculty members.

“The planning for the debate is really just starting,” said Steve Givens, head of the Debate Committee. “I held my first steering committee meeting last week, and at that meeting I basically discussed the basic areas of responsibility: facilities preparation, security, tickets, volunteers, student events, etc.”

Givens explained that the Debate Commission and the television producers will come to campus in February to make a “tech survey” and check things out.

In March, Givens will be visiting Washington D.C. to meet with the Commission and representatives of the other debate sites.

Jill Carnaghi, assistant vice chancellor for students, expects the debate to offer a lot of volunteer opportunities for students.

“The real beauty of having the debate [on campus] is the variety of opportunities for students to get involved,” said Carnaghi. “When it comes to the presidential debates, they’re excited to allow students to contribute in a variety of ways.”

Carnaghi said she expects that student volunteers will be needed to help with voter registration, giving tours of the debate site, ushering and working with media groups.

“We’ll probably have a protest area, as well,” she said.

Students will most likely be notified of available volunteer positions later this semester.

“It’s a little early, and not everything is in place,” said Carnaghi.

Citing past experience with the 2000 debate, Carnaghi expects the University Debate Team, WUTV, KWUR and Student Life to be very involved, as well as other media groups on campus. The goal, she said, is for the debate to be “as inclusive as possible” for students.

Sophomore Nicole Soussan, president of the College Democrats, said her group has “big plans for the debate, and [has] been brainstorming.”

She explained the group has been in contact with the executive director of the College Democrats nationally and is working to “bring in a big-name speaker in conjunction with whoever the nominee is.” She also said that the group will be in contact with the nominee’s campaign once he is selected.

Senior Kelley Mesa, president of the College Republicans, said her group is not presently planning anything.

“We’re not planning anything, mainly because it’s so far away, and there’s not much you can do,” said Mesa.

Mesa, who was president of the group during the 2000 debate, said that many student-involved opportunities were planned only weeks before the debate. She noted that she expects things will be the same this year.

Students on campus are generally looking forward to hosting the debate. The main concern is that not enough students will actually get to be present at the debate itself.

“I’m excited they’re here,” said sophomore Alex Rechlin of the upcoming debates. “I just wish I could go. It’s very disappointing that I probably won’t be able to.”

In 2000, 150 students received tickets to the debate, and a similar number is expected for 2004. Tickets will be awarded to students via a lottery system, and Chancellor Wrighton has said that all tickets given to the University will be distributed to students.

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