Washington University, along with 18 other schools, announced yesterday that it has submitted an application to host the 2008 presidential debates. The Commission on Presidential Debates will conduct site surveys during the next several months; selections will be announced in October. Since 1992, Washington University has been invited to host presidential debates.
“I think Washington University has a lot to offer and we’ve been very fortunate about being selected in the past,” said Rob Wild, assistant to the chancellor. “We hope that our previous good work will make us a good candidate.”
Some had voiced concerns that financial expenses would present a significant barrier to bringing the debate to campus – the debate itself costs over $1 million and carries a host of other expenses connected to its production.
Wild noted, however, that students would not have to pay additional money if the debates were to be hosted at the University.
“It is expensive…it’s always expensive. It’s one of the reasons we work very hard to seek outside sponsorship for the debate, so that cost is not passed to the students,” said Wild.
Students are generally looking forward to the prospect of having another presidential debate on campus.
“I was a freshman [during the first debate] and already in November, ‘bam,’ being exposed and not just Wash. U., but kind of the nation at the same time. It was an amazing experience,” said Raymond Mailhot, a junior. “What I also remember was the fact that Wash. U. made it really easy for students to get involved…everyone was just glued to what was happening to the nation.”
Brittany Perez, a sophomore, hopes that bringing an event of this magnitude to campus could shake some students out of their political lethargy.
“There’s a lack of enthusiasm and passion on our campus and students take action on things they believe in,” said Perez. “I would be really disappointed if the debates came to campus and students weren’t involved or excited about the debates and it would just kind of be a not successful thing to happen.”
Wild noted that students have much to gain from a presidential debate on campus.
“It’s a great chance to give students an opportunity to have a close interaction with the political process,” said Wild. “Just having all the news media on campus [brings a lot to the campus]. Even though very few students have the chance to get in the debate, for those that do it’s a tremendously powerful experience no matter what side of the political spectrum you’re on.”
Freshman Dagny Anderson noted that the 2004 debate was one of the reasons he decided to apply to the University.
“It’s actually one of the things that attracted me to this school. I realized that St. Louis is in the middle of the United States and it’d be a good chance to see a lot of different viewpoints here,” said Anderson. “I’m really looking forward to if they get to have it here again.”
Stacey Goodwin, president of the College Republicans, supported the application, saying that the debates would bring attention to the University.
“[It’s a] great way to raise political awareness on campus,” said Goodwin.
In the end, Wild noted that although he was very confident in the University’s proposal, competition to host the debates would still be stiff.
“There’s a lot of institutions bidding for it,” said Wild. “I think we’re going to have some very strong competition.”