The three presidential and one vice presidential debates traversed regions, traditions and history. Belmont proved that small places with big ambitions could be world-class stages. WUSTL, which has hosted more debates in the modern age than any other place, became part of history by hosting the first vice presidential debate involving a Republican woman.

References:

1. Oct. 17, 2008 — On campus, the debates continue in the USA Today online

and 4 others.

Financial outlays to host a debate, not to mention the strain on human resources on campus, might seem a lot for a university to pay for some visibility and a one-time enhancement of its student experience. But consider the potential payoff, especially for smaller schools. WUSTL spokesman Steve Givens comments on the subject.

References:

1. Oct. 16, 2008 — Schools Spend on Debates, but Gain Prestige in the The New York Times

and 1 others.

WUSTL officials comment on support measures in place to cover production expenses, facilities work and campus grounds maintenance related to hosting the vice presidential debate.

References:

1. Oct. 3, 2008 — While spending millions on debates, universities hope to draw attention and educate students in the Los Angeles Times

and 11 others.

Kate Snow reports on pre-debate preparations of both VP candidates. Snow asks WUSTL psychology professor and memory expert Mark McDaniel if there's any risk to cramming too much.

References:

1. Oct. 2, 2008 — Palin - Biden: The Main Event/ Behind the Scenes in the ABC News 'Good Morning America'

On Thursday, Sarah Palin has a chance to restore her image, while Joe Biden must avoid being long-winded or aggressive.

References:

1. Oct. 2, 2008 — Unusually high stakes in vice presidential debate in the The Christian Science Monitor

Thursday's debate at WUSTL between VP candidates Biden and Palin offers unusually large pitfalls — and promise.

References:

1. Oct. 1, 2008 — Debate offers Palin, Biden high risks, big rewards in the Associated Press

and 24 others.

The political front will be shifting to Missouri, where the vice-presidential nominees will participate in their only debate.
They will be off the campaign trail most of the week, preparing for the showdown, which is scheduled for Thursday at WUSTL.

References:

1. Sept. 29, 2008 — Biden and Palin Prepare to Tangle in the The New York Times

The Obama and McCain campaigns have agreed to an unusual free-flowing format for the three televised presidential debates, but the McCain camp fought for and won a much more structured approach for the questioning at the vice-presidential debate, advisers to both campaigns said.

References:

1. Sept. 21, 2008 — Pact on Debates Will Let McCain and Obama Spar in the The New York Times

Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin said she expects a challenging debate when she faces a Democratic opponent who was elected to the Senate when she was 8 years old.

References:

1. Sept. 18, 2008 — Palin expects Biden to be a 'great debater' in the Associated Press

and 29 others.

Overview of Hofstra, site if one of the presidential debates for the '08 campaign. WUSTL hosts the single vice-presidential debate.

References:

1. Aug. 25, 2008 — For the Last Presidential Debate, a Nation's Eyes Will Turn to Hofstra in the The New York Times

John McCain and Barack Obama have agreed to hold three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate this fall, the campaigns said in a joint statement Thursday that outlined formats, dates and locations.
Vice presidential contenders are to meet Oct. 2 at WUSTL.

References:

1. Aug. 20, 2008 — McCain, Obama agree on fall debates in the Associated Press

and 36 others.

Details, interesting trivia and other information on the criteria and procedure the Commission on Presidential Debates selects debate forums.

References:

1. Aug. 7, 2006 — Winning The Debate-Stakes in the The Wall Street Journal

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced the moderators for this fall's four general election debates. PBS anchors Jim Lehrer and Gwen Ifill will moderate one debate each, with Mr. Lehrer hosting the first presidential debate Sept. 26 at the University of Mississippi, and Ms. Ifill hosting the vice-presidential debate Oct. 2 at WUSTL.

References:

1. Aug. 6, 2008 — Lehrer, Brokaw Among Fall Debate Hosts in the The Wall Street Journal

Laura Ingraham interviews two students on the subject of liberal intolerance on college campuses. WUSTL student Jill Strominger comments.

References:

1. May 20, 2008 — Liberal Intolerance on College Campuses in the Fox - The O'Reilly Factor

Host Neal Conan talks to the Weekly Standard's Joseph Epstein about Northwestern offering and then rescinding an honorary degree to Reverend Jeremiah Wright. One of the callers was a WUSTL alum named Mark who described the protest against Phyllis Schlafly at WUSTL's commencement.

References:

1. May 20, 2008 — Northwestern Rescinds Wright's Honorary Degree in the NPR - Talk of the Nation

Hundreds of WUSTL students and faculty staged a silent protest as conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly received an honorary degree at the 147th Commencement.

References:

1. May 16, 2008 — Students, faculty protest Schlafly at commencement in the Associated Press State & Local Wire

and 62 others.

Some faculty and students at WUSTL plan to protest at commencement to show their disapproval for the university's decision to award conservative leader Phyllis Schlafly an honorary degree on Friday.
The director of WUSTL's woman and gender studies program, Mary Ann Dzuback, comments.

References:

1. May 9, 2008 — Protest planned against Schlafly receiving honorary degree in the Associated Press State & Local Wire

and 3 others.

The art exhibit "Beauty and the Blonde: An Exploration of American Art and Popular Culture," is being presented by WUSTL's Kemper Art Museum. It is curated by Catharina Manchanda, and it includes the famous silkscreens of Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe and Roy Lichtenstein's pop art images of blondes in comics.

References:

1. Jan. 19, 2008 — Blonde Ambition: Iconic Blondes Shape History in the ABC News -- Good Morning America

Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in Japanese manga, or comic books, in the United States, yet Korean comics remain relatively unknown. This fall, the WUSTL's Kemper Art Museum will present Korean Comics: A Society through Small Frames, a rare U.S. exhibition of work from both North and South Korea.
The exhibition provides a decade-by-decade glimpse of the evolving social realities in contemporary Korea, as depicted in comics ranging from popular children's entertainment to aggressive forms of political commentary.

References:

1. Aug. 9, 2007 — Korean Comics: A Society through Small Frames at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum in the ArtDaily.org

AP story on a three-day energy and environment conference at WUSTL, hosted by the McDonnell International Scholars Academy.
Thirteen university presidents from around the world urged government agencies and corporations to pour more resources into finding new sources of energy that don't harm the environment, calling it the most pressing problem facing the world today.
WUSTL chancellor Mark Wrighton comments.

References:

1. May 7, 2007 — International university presidents declare energy research crucial in the Associated Press

and 3 others.