By Brian Bohl
Logistical issues such as security measures and parking specifications for next fall's presidential debate will be determined in the following two months, Joseph Barkwill, the University's vice president of Facilities and Operations, said.
Barkwill said University officials will be meeting with Secret Service representatives as well as the Commission on Presidential Debates in January to discuss which areas of the campus might be restricted for the Oct. 15 debate, which is scheduled to be held at the Mack Sports Complex.
The University will host the final debate in the run-up to the election, joining the University of Mississippi-Oxford and Belmont University (Tennessee). All three schools will meet with the commission early next year for an orientation discussion.
"We have a plan that we proposed to the Debate Commission. They came in April and toured the site," Barkwill said. "We know the site locations that will be impacted. But only a week into the approval process, we haven't had any in-depth meetings with the commission for the debate yet."
Along with the actual debate site, the University is planning for the Physical Fitness Center to be used as a media hub. The back parking lot will be able to accommodate satellite trucks for television stations, with additional parking spots sectioned off for media. Public Safety will also be involved with the ensuing security plans.
"We're working on the details for the infrastructure," Barkwill said. "We haven't worked out the actual details yet. As far as getting the information to the students, we can't offer much at this time except the site locations."
Barkwill said he is optimistic south campus, the academic side, will also be utilized, which could feature seminars in the weeks leading up to the event. The debate is scheduled to be simulcast around the University.
Melissa Connolly, vice president of University Relations, released a statement Tuesday about the policy on ticket distribution. A sign-up list for tickets will be available in the fall of 2008.
"Tickets will not be available through Hofstra University personnel, and tickets are not available through any means at this point in time," said Connolly in the release.