Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA
10-04-07
UNI to host live MSNBC Republican presidential debate Nov. 6
By EMILY CHRISTENSEN, Courier Staff Writer
CEDAR FALLS --- Cable television network MSNBC announced today it will telecast a Republican presidential candidates debate live from the University of
Northern Iowa next month.
Iowa State University was originally slated to host the debate, which was announced last February. Jim O'Connor, UNI's associate director of public relations, was not sure why the station opted to move the event, but is happy the
Cedar Falls university could pick it up.
"They approached us and said they had the debate scheduled for this night and they needed a venue," O'Connor said. "The planning didn't really start in earnest until yesterday afternoon. Our biggest concern was that we did not want this to be a detriment to our students, faculty or staff. We needed to make sure we could do this in a month and do it right to UNI standards."
The debate is scheduled from 8 to 10 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Gallagher-Bluedorn
Performing Arts Center. The date is the same night as municipal elections and almost exactly one year before the presidential election.
The debate will air live and MSNBC.com will also stream the two hours live on the Internet. It has not yet been determined how many candidates will participate or who is set to moderate the event. The university will also play host to
MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews. Matthews was also on campus this summer during RAGBRAI.
"As the political season heats up, Iowa is the place to be and we're thrilled to partner with UNI to provide this important forum for the candidates," said Phil
Griffin, senior vice president, NBC News, and executive in charge of MSNBC.
The GBPAC Great Hall holds about 1,600 people, but O'Connor was unsure how many of those seats would be available for the general population
The university is already working to move or reschedule educational classes or activities originally slated for the GBPAC during the set-up and event. O'Connor said parking officials are also working to determine where everyone can park.
Several night classes are scheduled for Tuesday nights and a regional high school football game is already scheduled for the UNI-Dome that night.

Though the school has only one month to plan, university officials are certain they can pull this off, especially after hosting RAGBRAI this summer.
"We're thrilled to team with NBC News and MSNBC to host the debate," said
President Benjamin Allen. "This is a unique opportunity for a public comprehensive university like UNI to showcase itself before a national audience."
Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.