WEDNESDAY, JUNE11,2003
NEWS
D8
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 9
POLITICS
KU could host 2004 presidential debate
University among 14 sites considered for prestigious honor
By Ehren Meditz emeditz@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
A movement to bring a presidential debate to Lawrence — and to the University of Kansas — could bear fruit later this year.
Two members of the Commission on Presidential Debates, a nonprofit organization that sponsors and produces presidential debates, visited with community and University leaders on June 2 and viewed the Lied Center and Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
Clenece Hills, chairwoman of the Lawrence Presidential Debate Committee, said the commission could schedule another visit, but that more information was scarce.
"We don't have a whole lot of feedback," Hills said. "They play it pretty close to the vest."
The University is one of 14 potential sites that stretch from Arizona to New York.
Applicants must fulfill a list of stringent criteria by providing both a debate hall and a press hall of adequate size with suitable office equipment for political consultants and journalists.
In addition, the city must raise $750,000 for the debate's production costs, which could be raised through private donations, Hills said.
The commission plans to announce its final decision in November.
Diana Carlin, dean of the graduate school and CPD advisory board member, said the meeting with the visitors was productive.
"They were very impressed with the beauty of the campus and the quality of facilities we have," Carlin said. "The expertise and commitment also impressed them."
Hills said the Horejsi Center may not be large enough to seat the expected 2,000 journalists, but a tent could be erected complete with the necessary electrical wiring, similar to those used by the Super Bowl press.
"The result would be a higher level of knowledge about the presidential election process and involvement in it for the entire campus than any other mechanism would likely produce."
David Shulenburger Provost
Provost David Shulenburger said the event would be a wonderful educational experience for students.
"The result would be a higher level of knowledge about the presidential election process and involvement in it for the entire campus than any other mechanism would likely produce," Shulenburger said.
Curtis Sloan, KU law student and member of the Lawrence Presidential Debate Committee, presented the student perspective to the visitors during their meeting on June 2. He said that the debate would have a tremendous effect on students.
"Not only would they benefit from the increased attention paid to the University, but they would benefit from the programming surrounding the debates," Sloan said.
That year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Lawrence and the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education decision that provided a legal basis for school desegregation.
Such potential activities could include teach-ins, lectures and conferences as well as guest speaking engagements by campaign staffers, journalists and pundits, he said.
The 2004 debate would occur at an important historical time for both Lawrence and Kansas, Carlin said.
Sloan said he was encouraged by the visit and the committee was devoted to doing all it could to bring the debate to campus.
"I think the commission was looking for commitment and flexibility from us, and they found it," Sloan said.
— Edited by Richard Gintowt
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