OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi students who love politics
and want to attend perhaps the biggest event in the university’s
history – the first 2008 presidential debate – are lined up in teams
getting ready to compete in the political quiz bowl Quiz Me.
All interested students were given the opportunity to sign up for the
competition, which involves four-member teams in a series of matches
based on answering politically themed questions. The championship
round, set for noon Sept. 18 on the Student Union Plaza, is free and
open to the public.
The four winners will be among some 50 students who earn the privilege
in various ways to attend the national event hosted Sept. 26 in UM’s
Ford Center. The quiz bowl and dozens of other events and activities
have been planned to help prepare students and local audiences for the
debate, in which frontrunners John McCain and Barack Obama tackle
questions on national security and foreign policy.
The Student Steering Committee came up with the quiz bowl idea after
they were asked to think of different ways to interest students in the
historic event.
“It’s a great way to get students involved that showcases their
learning but is also fun,” said Claire Graves, Student Steering
Committee member and coordinator of the quiz bowl. Graves is a junior
business major from Ackerman.
First rounds of Quiz Me are set for 7-10 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17.
Questions chosen for the competition will be political in general. The
topics could range from dates of important events to famous political
quotes. Graves has appealed to political science professors for
question ideas.
“We want to make sure the questions are legitimate and they are
questions probably no one has heard before,” Graves said. “It’s going
to be based on knowledge.”
For more information about Quiz Me, contact Graves at cegraves@olemiss.edu. For assistance related to a disability in order to attend the public event, call 662-915-7248.