The debate hall

The Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College is an 85,000 square-foot facility that mounts a major performing arts series each year. Newlin Hall (within the Norton Center) has a maximum seating capacity of 1,500. The capacity will be greatly reduced for the debate due to space required for television production equipment. All tickets are controlled by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). The CPD also determines the debate format, and other arrangements for the event.


How Centre was chosen as a host site

Centre President John Roush assisted with the 1992 Presidential debate at the University of Richmond, where he was serving as vice president. Upon becoming president of Centre (July 1, 1998), he suggested that the college apply to become a host site. The college began the application process in June 1999 and received word of its final selection in January 2000. According to President Roush, the factors in Centre's selection included: the quality of facilities available in the Norton Center for the Arts, a strong tradition of student political activism, evidence of community support (including a creative letter-writing campaign by local school children), and strength of the administrative and support staff.


Other debate sites

Three Presidential debates are scheduled this year: Oct. 3 - John F. Kennedy Library and U.-Mass., Boston; Oct. 11 - Wake Forest University, Winston Salem; and Oct. 17 - Washington University, St. Louis. At every site, the debate begins at 9 p.m. Eastern time and runs for 90 minutes.


On-line resources

• Centre Web site (including debate home page and press kit): www.centre.edu
• Centre Web site on the U.S. Vice Presidency: www.vpcentre.net
• Centre's Internet partner for the debate: iHigh.com (specializing in resources for high school students)

Media contacts in the Centre Communications Office

• Office fax: 859-238-5723
• Mike Norris • 859-238-5718 • norris@centre.edu
• Patsi B. Trollinger • 859-238-5719 • trllngrp@centre.edu
• Diane Johnson • 859-238-5717 • johnsond@centre.edu
• Vickie Glidewell • 859-238-5714 • glidwell@centre.edu

Centre College, 600 W. Walnut Street, Danville, KY 40422