A small college wins the right
to host a big debate

The Campus: intellectually vigorous and passionate about politics
The Commission on Presidential Debates has a particular interest in encouraging young Americans to care about the political process. Centre College students, over half of whom are registered on campus as Young Democrats or College Republicans, enthusiastically expressed their interest when a CPD representative visited campus in November. Elementary, middle-school and high-school students from Central Kentucky later sent letters, drawings, and even a song to the commission.

The Debate Hall: well-equipped
Centre College's Norton Center for the Arts has handled recent appearances by Yo Yo Ma, the Boston Pops, and the London Philharmonic. The CPD evaluated the hall during a November visit and found the building and adjacent location to be ideal for media satellite trucks and the CPD production crew.

The Setting: small-town America
Centre has the unique combination of a sophisticated arts center set in a small town (Danville, Ky. - population around 18,000). This gave the CPD an opportunity to bring a debate and the national political process to a setting that will be familiar and inviting to many American voters. At the same time, the college and the town have a track record for coping with large crowds. Every June, Centre and Danville collaborate to host nearly 40,000 visitors for a three-day Great American Brass Band Festival.

Quick facts about Centre
Founded: 1819
Enrollment: 1,050
Liberal arts, coeducational, residential

Noteworthy alumni
• Vice President John Cabell Breckinridge
• Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, author of minority opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson
• Athlete Bo McMillin, hero in Centre's historic 1921 football victory over Harvard
• Journalist Gus Crain, founder of Advertising Age magazine
• Entrepreneur Isaac Tigrett, founder of the Hard Rock Café
• Playwright Mary Hall Surface, author of Most Valuable Player (about Jackie Robinson)

Best recent news stories about Centre (full-text available on-line)
Centre senior becomes youngest Rhodes Scholar (12/5/99)
Powell named Kentucky Professor of the Year (10/20/99)
Artist begins massive outdoor sculpture for the campus (10/5/99)
U.S. News ranks Centre among top 50 liberal arts colleges (8/20/99)
Alumni rank first in the nation in annual giving (8/16/99)

Contacts
Communications Office
Centre College
600 West Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422

Patsi Trollinger (media relations)
606-238-5719
trllngrp@centre.edu

Mike Norris
606-238-5718

Diane Johnson
606-238-5717