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Last modified: Thursday, August 7, 2008

IU Bloomington selected for 2008 gubernatorial debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 7, 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Bloomington has been selected as one of three Indiana locations to host a 2008 gubernatorial debate, it was announced today (Aug. 7) by the Indiana Debate Commission.

IU Auditorium

IU Auditorium

Should the candidates for Indiana governor agree to participate, IU Bloomington would host the third of three proposed debates on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at IU Auditorium. The debate is likely to take place in the evening and will be open to the public. Additional debates would be held in Merrillville and Jasper on Sept. 16 and 23, respectively.

"We are very pleased to be chosen as a gubernatorial debate site," said IU President Michael A. McRobbie. "This promises to enrich the educational and research environment at the same time as it provides a window that reveals American democracy at work."

IU Bloomington was chosen as the debate location for central Indiana; Merrillville and Jasper will represent the northern and southern regions of the state, respectively.

The debates are expected to be aired live by Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations (IPBS). The commission has sent formal invitations to participate in the debates to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels as well as to Democratic nominee Jill Long Thompson and Libertarian candidate Andy Horning.

The selected venues are "giving generously of their professional staff and support services to guarantee the best forums for candidates as well as voters," said Kevin Finch, president of the Indiana Debate Commission and news director of WISH-TV in Indianapolis.

In 2007, IU Bloomington submitted a strong, student-led proposal to host one of the upcoming U.S. presidential debates. Though ultimately unsuccessful, IU officials credited it as being a significant learning experience for the students and administrators who developed the proposal.

The Indiana Debate Commission, a nonprofit coalition that began meeting in February 2007, represents stateside citizen groups as well as media groups. Many of its members have experience with debate scheduling and formats, either in a volunteer or professional capacity. For more information, visit https://www.indianadebatecommission.com.