Centre announces plans to apply for 2008 Presidential Debate

RELEASED: Nov. 30, 2006

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College president John Roush announced recently at a rally on campus that the College will make a bid to host a General Election debate in 2008. The president of the student body as well as the Centre College student presidents of both the Young Democrats and the Young Republicans spoke in support of the College's decision and voiced their excitement at the prospect of hosting a General Election debate.

Should Centre be chosen to host a debate in 2008, it has many advantages to offer. In addition to having the experience of successfully hosting the 2000 Vice Presidential Debate, the College has the Norton Center for the Arts–a facility that few, if any host sites, no matter their size, can match.

Just as important as the debate hall itself are the facilities for the thousands of journalists and media personnel who cover these events. While the College's Sutcliffe Hall (an athletic and recreation complex) provided an adequate media facility in 2000, the renovated and expanded Sutcliffe, which has been in service for a little over a year, would provide an outstanding venue in 2008. 

The Commission on Presidential Debates also places great value on having the debate hall and media center in close proximity. The fact that the Norton Center and Sutcliffe are a little more than a hundred yards apart is a decided advantage for the College. In fact, one Commission official has told Centre officials that the design of the renovated and expanded Sutcliffe is ideal for a debate.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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