Nov 21, 2007 7:47 pm US/Eastern
UM Passed Over For 2008 Presidential Debate
CORAL GABLES (CBS4) ―
The University of Miami has been passed over to host one of the three 2008 Presidential Debates.
The Commission on Presidential Debates has announced that the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.; Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. and Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. will host the debates leading up to the Nov. 4 presidential election. Washington University in St. Louis, which hosted a presidential debate in 2000 and 2004, will host the vice presidential debate.
In 2004, UM hosted the first of three presidential debates which featured President George W. Bush and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.
"Hosting the 2004 debate was a tremendous opportunity for students, for faculty and staff at UM," said Rudy Fernandez, vice president for government affairs. "President Donna Shalala is very excited that we are hosting the two Univision/University of Miami forums because she will be able to keep the promise that every presidential candidate still visits the university during the election cycle."
"The Univision Democratic Forum was held here in September and the Republican Forum is scheduled for December 9. These events enabled us to keep a promise we made to the students: every major candidate for President will have visited the University of Miami campus at least once during this election season," said UM President Shalala.
Shalala says thousands of students will have had the opportunity to see the candidates before the primaries and next year they plan to provide additional opportunities to see the candidates who have won their party's nominations.
Grad student Patrick Williams says it's not really UM that is missing out on the opportunity but the candidates, considering how crucial Florida has been in previous elections.
"They're missing a golden opportunity, and this may cost someone the election," said Williams. "Maybe Florida might switch, who knows?"
Even if the University would have secured one of the 2008 debates, most of its students would have been forced to watch it on television. When UM hosted the 2004 presidential debates, only 250 students got to watch it live and in person, after participating in an essay contest.
Presidential Debates: - September 26th, 2008 - University of Mississippi in Oxford
- October 7nd, 2008 - Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee
- October 15th, 2008 - Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
Vice Presidential Debate - October 2nd, 2008 - Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
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