\nOXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi students who love politics
\nand want to attend perhaps the biggest event in the university’s
\nhistory – the first 2008 presidential debate – are lined up in teams
\ngetting ready to compete in the political quiz bowl Quiz Me.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nAll interested students were given the opportunity to sign up for the
\ncompetition, which involves four-member teams in a series of matches
\nbased on answering politically themed questions. The championship
\nround, set for noon Sept. 18 on the Student Union Plaza, is free and
\nopen to the public.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe four winners will be among some 50 students who earn the privilege
\nin various ways to attend the national event hosted Sept. 26 in UM’s
\nFord Center. The quiz bowl and dozens of other events and activities
\nhave been planned to help prepare students and local audiences for the
\ndebate, in which frontrunners John McCain and Barack Obama tackle
\nquestions on national security and foreign policy.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe Student Steering Committee came up with the quiz bowl idea after
\nthey were asked to think of different ways to interest students in the
\nhistoric event.\n<\/p>\n
\n“It’s a great way to get students involved that showcases their
\nlearning but is also fun,” said Claire Graves, Student Steering
\nCommittee member and coordinator of the quiz bowl. Graves is a junior
\nbusiness major from Ackerman.\n<\/p>\n
\nFirst rounds of Quiz Me are set for 7-10 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17.
\nQuestions chosen for the competition will be political in general. The
\ntopics could range from dates of important events to famous political
\nquotes. Graves has appealed to political science professors for
\nquestion ideas.\n<\/p>\n
\n“We want to make sure the questions are legitimate and they are
\nquestions probably no one has heard before,” Graves said. “It’s going
\nto be based on knowledge.”\n<\/p>\n