TONIGHT: Join With UC, Xavier Communities For DebateWatch Event At TUC

Political experts from around Ohio will join with students from the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University and spokespersons from both the Bush and Kerry campaigns for an official DebateWatch event on Thursday, Sept. 30, the night of the first of this year’s presidential debates. The event at UC’s Tangeman University Center begins with a pre-debate roundtable discussion at 7:30 p.m.

Here’s a rundown on the schedule of events and participants:

7:30 pm: Roundtable Discussion

The roundtable discussion will be conducted in two segments. The first segment will include discussion of the historical role of Ohio in presidential elections. The discussion will also focus on the current political environment in Ohio, as well as Ohio’s six "states" (or regional politics). The second segment will include short presentations on the role students are playing in the two major political campaigns, and efforts to reach out to students on the issues important to them. This segment will also focus on both major party candidates’ positions to date on the focus of the debate: foreign policy and homeland security.

Participants include:

• Moderators: Dr. Eric Rademacher, UC Institute for Policy Research; Dr. Gene Beaupre, Xavier University; Justin Shafer, UC Student Body President; and Andy Gibson, Xavier University Student Body President
• David Beckwith, spokesman for Bush/Cheney Ohio 2004
• Tim Burke, spokesman for Kerry/Edwards Ohio 2004
• Dr. Kim Downing, UC Institute for Policy Research
• Dr. Rich Harknett, UC Department of Political Science
• Mike Curtain, Associate Publisher, The Columbus Dispatch and author, Ohio Politics Almanac
• Bill Hershey, Columbus Bureau Chief for the Dayton Daily News
• Tom Suddes, Cleveland Plain Dealer Op-Ed Contributor

9:00 p.m.: Presidential Debate on Foreign Policy and Homeland Security Issues

10:30 p.m.: Post-Debate Discussion

For additional information about this event, contact Eric Rademacher at 513-556-3304 or Gene Beaupre at 513-745-4271.