Jonathan LaneMichael Moore may be joining the fray on campus this October. Student Union President David Ader confirmed that the Campus Programming Council is in the later stages of talks with the controversial documentary filmmaker to speak to students about the presidential election-though Moore has not yet signed a contract.
If he agrees to come, Moore will join a list of nationally renowned political analysts and activists slotted to speak at the University in anticipation of the debate Oct. 8. Indeed, for political junkies, debate preview events will start long before the first news truck rolls into town.
Among those events are those sponsored by Educate Yourself 2004, a student-run group, which has planned a series of forums designed to keep students abreast of the issues likely to play a major role in the presidential debates. Local specialists, University professors and national experts will share their expertise with attendees.
The series of forums will touch on hot-button issues like civil rights, the economy and trade and the political process. Students can attend forums every Monday at 4:45 p.m. in Rebstock 215, starting with a discussion of foreign policy on Sept. 7.
Also appearing on campus will be Mo Rocca, former senior political correspondent for “The Daily Show” and panelist on NPR’s “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me,” who will be making his second stop at Washington University this October.
Rocca will speak in Graham Chapel immediately following the presidential debate. The Chapel will serve as a remote viewing site for students who are unsuccessful in obtaining tickets to the debate itself. Following the conclusion of the debate, Rocca will give a presentation in response to what the different candidates promised, argued, and declared, then hold a question and answer session.
After his positive reception by students on campus last spring, the Congress of the South 40 (CS40) decided that he would be a witty and informative speaker to bring back.
“He gives really smart political commentary, but he’s very nonpartisan,” said Mary Schindler, advisor to CS40. “He more than filled Graham Chapel [last March].”
After reporting for “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” on which he offered viewers his “Mopinion” on the issues, Rocca indulged in his desire to visit the homes and graves of dead presidents and wrote a book concerning the pets that have lived in the White House. He recently served as the host of the Bravo TV series “Things I Hate About You,” investigating the imperfect relationships of married couples and their annoying habits.
Despite his unusual r‚sum‚, Mo-short for Maurice-is respected by some in the political arena.
Schindler noted that while he can be entertaining, Rocca usually gets the main point of the story across to his audience.
“While he seems to have a humorous approach, I don’t consider it to be really comedy,” said Schindler. “I consider him to be in the same category as Al Franken and Michael Moore.”
Student Union is also inviting a number of other speakers to campus in an effort to help students understand and become involved in the debate. A debate information session will be held the day before classes begin on Tuesday, August 31. Students interested in learning more about the debates can gather at Ursa’s Fireside from 8-9 p.m. and listen to a handful of speakers explain the different events occurring on or before October 8.
Steve Givens, chair of the Debate Committee, will talk about the event itself; Chief of University Police Don Strom will speak about campus security; and Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs Fred Volkmann will also speak. Sue Hosack, director of the Office of Student Records, and Stephanie Kurtzman, coordinator for community service and women’s programs, will explain how to apply for debate tickets; and Elizabeth Lukas, information specialist for the Career Center, and Jill Carnaghi, vice chancellor for students, will tell students how they can get involved as volunteers.
In preparation for the November elections, CS40 and Project Democracy are also combining forces to encourage students to vote. The organizations placed almost 1,500 voter registration cards in each freshman’s dorm room before the new residents moved into their halls. According to Chris Wray, internal operations chair for CS40, this represents “one of the biggest voter registration drives ever on campus.”
-with additional reporting by Rachel Streitfeld and Kelly Donahue