Presidential Debate Story Ideas
Prepared for media covering the presidential debate Oct. 8, 2004.
Faculty Experts
Homeland Security
Washington University has a number of internationally recognized experts and researchers on terrorism and homeland security who can address issues including intelligence, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity and target identification. Faculty associated with the University's Center for Security Technologies may be of particular interest as they are strongly committed to security in their research and academic initiatives.
Politics
Washington University in St. Louis has a strong connection to modern presidential politics, having been selected to host presidential candidate debates in each election since 1992. Presidential debates were held here in 1992 and 2000; the 1996 debate scheduled to take place here was cancelled. WUSTL also is home to a top-rated graduate program in political science, which includes leading experts on presidential politics and policies.
Biodefense Center
Contact: Michael Purdy, Medical Public Affairs, (314) 286-0122, purdym@wustl.edu |
Washington University is the anchor institution for the Midwest Regional Center of Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (MRCE), one of eight NIH-funded centers devoted to developing new vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for emerging diseases and potential bioterror threats. Through the MRCE, which includes four partner institutions in addition to Washington University, you can access experts on a variety of potential bioterror agents and emerging diseases.
Stem Cells
As the past president of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology — the largest coalition of biomedical research associations in the United States — biomedical researcher Steven Teitelbaum, M.D., is a strong proponent of therapeutic cloning.
The promise of somatic cell nuclear transfer, as it is also known, is that patients could use their own cells to ward off serious illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson's, heart disease and Alzheimer's. Teitelbaum believes the scientific community has done a poor job explaining the concept of therapeutic cloning, which isn't a reproductive process, since no whole organism results. He can explain some of the scientific challenges, realities and ethical implications of cloning.
Hosting a Debate Takes a Village
Contact: Steve Givens, assistant to the Chancellor and chair of the Presidential Debate Steering Committee, (314) 935-5127, sjgivens@wustl.edu; M. Fredric Volkmann, vice chancellor for public affairs, (314) 935-5476, volkmann@wustl.edu |
All hands are on deck when it comes to hosting a presidential debate, including carpenters, telecommunications workers, electricians, police and managers.
Two presidential candidates and their entourages present many logistical challenges for an institution hosting a debate. These include secret service requirements, facilities preparations, equipment, space and information for approximately 1,500 media representatives worldwide; room for political demonstrations; parking, traffic accommodations, and many challenges that are unanticipated.
Candidates need their own space for preparation. To meet this demand, the Washington University Athletic Complex, the home of numerous nationally ranked teams, has turned Washington University coaches' offices into preparation rooms for the candidates.
Sponsors for the debate are A.G. Edwards, Bank of America, BJC HealthCare and Emerson Electric.
Events Around Campus
Black and White Presidential Photo Exhibit
A special feature at this year's debate will be a black and white photography exhibit of past presidents of the United States, which will run until Oct. 11 at John M. Olin Library. It is viewable during library hours.
Pictures of the Year International of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and the University of Miami School of Communication have co-produced the exhibit, which was printed by National Geographic's digital imaging lab.
Subjects include each American president from Franklin Roosevelt to George W. Bush.
MTV's Rock the Vote on Oct. 9
MTV's Rock the Vote concert and festival will take place in the Brookings Quadrangle from 12-5 p.m. on Oct. 9, the day after the scheduled presidential debate. Rock the Vote is a nonprofit and nonpartisan media partner of MTV that tours college campuses encouraging political activism. Confirmed musical groups include Dan Dyer, Shelly Fairchild and Wylde Bunch with St. Juste. The concert is free and open only to WUSTL students, faculty and staff with valid ID. For media access, contact:
Matt Gassen St. Louis Community Street Team Leader, (404) 983-0479.
Mo Rocca at Graham Chapel
Contact: Mary Schindler, Congress of the South 40 advisor, (314) 935-4930 |
Media satirist Mo Rocca, former cast member of Comedy Central's The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, will speak in Graham Chapel immediately following the debate. Rocca will do a presentation and commentary on the debate, followed by a book signing. The talk is free and open only to WUSTL students, faculty and staff with valid ID. For media access, contact Neil Schoenherr, Office of Public Affairs, at (314) 935-5235.
WUSTL Center Cosponsors Health Care Conference on Oct. 7
Contact: Michael Purdy, Medical Public Affairs, (314) 286-0122, purdym@wustl.edu |
One day before the debate, national experts on health care policy will gather at "Health Care Challenges Facing the Nation," a conference cosponsored by Washington University's Center for Health Policy, the Weidenbaum Center at Washington University and the Brookings Institution. Participants at the conference will discuss a number of health care issues that may also be discussed at the presidential debate, including racial and ethnic disparities in access to health care, paying for research and development, and the possibility of rationing health care. William Peck, M.D., professor of medicine, is director of the Center for Health Policy.
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Health Care Policy Faculty Experts
Students
Students with political expertise offer wide range of opinions
For more information: http://news-info.wustl.edu/debate-students
Campus leaders are available from Student Union, College Republicans, College Democrats, Debate Team, Project Democracy and representatives to the Board of Trustees. See the above site for a full list. Feel free to contact the students directly.
University volunteers make debate possible
During the 2000 debate, some 600 University community members volunteered their time to help make it a success. This year, more than 670 students and 106 faculty and staff members applied for volunteer positions for the debate.
Students, faculty and staff were given their assignments on Sept. 17. Two hundred sixty-five student volunteers were given volunteer positions, along with 60 alternates. There will also be 26 faculty and staff volunteers.
Volunteers will be working in the following areas:
- Presidential Debate Commission Office - administrative support
- The Media File Center - administrative support
- The Debate Hall - ushers and credential checks
- Production Assistance - engineering support, staging aspects
- Tours - lead tours of debate facility
- Tickets - assist with ticketing and security procedures
- National News Media - administrative support
Students design 2004 debate logo and commemorative items
A trio of graphic design students in the School of Art, who graduated this past May, — Jessica Sonkin (from Washington Township, N.J.), Victoria Caldwell (Paducah, Ky.) and Ilana Breziner (San Diego) — designed the two logos for the debate.
Seniors Nyla Batts and Meredith Nadler, also in the School of Art, designed commemorative items — posters, lapel pins, buttons, tote bags and T-shirts — while working as graphic design interns for the University's Publications Department.
Students can watch, react to debate on big screens
Much like a championship game, a presidential debate is an event to be shared. University students, as well as faculty and staff, will have several viewing sites around campus where they can watch the debate live. Media can attend the viewing sessions from 8-9 p.m. at any of the following locations:
- May Auditorium, Simon Hall
- Women's Building Formal Lounge
- Ursa's Café, South 40
School of Medicine Hosts Debate-viewing Event
What are the major health care issues in this year's presidential election? How might the election affect science and medical research? At the School of Medicine, students, faculty and staff will gather to watch the debate telecast and discuss these issues. Larry J. Shapiro, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and WUSM dean, will lead a discussion to compare and contrast the candidates' positions on health care and science policy.
Potential interview opportunities include student leaders in the American Medical Student Association, a sponsor of the event. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in Moore Auditorium, School of Medicine North Building, at the corner of Euclid and Scott avenues.
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