OXFORD, Miss. – As a precursor to the first 2008 presidential debate,
University of Mississippi student members of both College Democrats and
College Republicans are set to tackle the tough issues of this election
season in a student debate Sept. 4.
The event, set for 7-8:30 pm. at the Overby Center Auditorium, is free and open to the public.
Both organizations are to assemble teams of four students who will face off in intervals on domestic issues such as immigration, energy conservation, the economy and health care.
They also plan to address national security and foreign policy, which will be the focus when the presidential frontrunners meet for their historic debate Sept. 26 on the Oxford campus. The student debate is among dozens of UM events planned to help prepare students and local audiences for the national event.
The idea for the student debate came last year when College Republicans president Tyler Craft and College Democrats president Brent Caldwell decided to develop a student event leading up to the presidential debate.
Student debate moderator is Eric Thomas Weber, assistant professor of public policy leadership. He will give introductions, ask questions and steer the event from one issue to another.
“What I value and what I think America values in a debate is getting as much specific information as possible,” said Weber, who has taught both Craft and Caldwell in public speaking classes. “The most important thing is to air significant views. It’s interesting how a debate can affect an election. John Kerry was thought to have won many of his debates, though he lost the election, and George Bush Sr. said he felt debates did little to help him into office.”
Weber also noted that, based on his experiences with the two student leaders, he feels the event is going to be an intense but mature debate.
“Their purpose is to represent their parties,” he said. “I think to win a debate is to come off as having vision and candor.”
Caldwell, who hails from St. Martin, is to compete on the Democrat team, along with Jeff Dreste of St. Louis. Names of the final two team members have not been announced.
“Our goal is to show which party is more informed at Ole Miss and which college students are most ready to handle the issues of the world when we go out there,” Caldwell said. “Overall we just want to show how democratic ideas work for America.”
The College Republican team members are Craft, a native of Laurel, Cadley Burns and Billy Roach of Tupelo, and Charles Cowan of Jackson.
“I think this debate gives students a chance to hear and see some of the issues that will be at the real debate,” Craft said. “This is for the people who may not get to go to the real debate.”
The event is hosted by the Student Programming Board. For more information or for assistance related to a disability, contact Jennifer Taylor at 662-915-1044 or jjtaylor@olemiss.edu.