RELEASED: Oct. 9, 2003

DANVILLE, KY—In about a month, Centre College will learn if it will be hosting a 2004 presidential debate.

The Commission on Presidential Debates will announce debate sites in November. Centre is one of 14 sites under consideration for a General Election debate.

Alumni, community members and friends of the college have vigorously rallied in support of the effort.

Schoolchildren in the Danville-Boyle County area recently sent a collection of letters, poems, songs and pictures expressing their pride in the 2000 vice presidential debate that Centre hosted while stating their strong desire to have another debate come to their hometown next year. On receiving the materials, Janet Brown, executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates, said that the students' work was "phenomenal."

Several prominent community members and alumni have written letters of support on behalf of the college's proposal.

Also, Centre senior and Danville native Anne Ledford published an op-ed piece in the Lexington Herald-Leader calling on the Commission to bring the debates back to small-town America and the nation's young people.

"We've had positive feedback from the Commission on Presidential Debates and they've been impressed with the enthusiasm the Centre community has had in this effort," said Centre president John Roush. "We appreciate all the work everyone has done, and the generosity and kind words from our alumni and friends."

For more information, go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/debate03.html.

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