Centre College got its second national nod on Monday when it was selected to host the only vice-presidential debate in 2012.
Centre's experience in hosting the 2000 vice-presidential debate at the Norton Center for the Arts in Danville helped win the event planned for Oct. 11, 2012, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates.
"First, Centre did an outstanding job of hosting the 2000 vice-presidential debate," said Janet Brown, the commission's executive director. "Second, Centre's principal players from that debate are still at the college, and we value that experience. Finally, Centre's facilities, as good as they were in 2000, are vastly improved now."
The college has spent $100 million on facility upgrades since 2000, said Centre spokesman Michael Strysick. That includes an expansion to the physical education center, which will serve as media headquarters during the debate, and a new 40,000-square-foot student center, which will serve as a commissary for journalists and the campaigns. In addition, the school spent about $3 million on improvements at the Norton Center.
"When we hosted the 2000 vice-presidential debate, Centre and Danville were by far the smallest college and town to host a general election debate, but by all accounts we set a new standard," said Centre President John A. Roush in a statement. "We are proud of the confidence that the commission has again expressed in Centre and Danville."
The 2000 vice presidential debate between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat (now independent) Joe Lieberman had a huge effect on Centre, officials said.
Centre's enrollment, for example, has increased from 1,000 to more than 1,200, and in the year after the debate, out-of-state applications increased 25 percent from the previous year, and total applications went up 12 percent. Centre also saw an increase in alumni giving.
Among the amenities that the commission requires is a debate hall that has at least 17,000 square feet and is air-conditioned; a parking area close to the debate hall that has space for as many as 30 television remote trucks and satellite trucks; and at least 3,000 hotel rooms available within 30 minutes by car.
The debate doesn't come for free. Clarence Wyatt, special assistant to Roush, said the school must pay $1.65 million to the debate commission, and Strysick said Centre will have to find another $1 million for costs beyond that, all of it privately raised.
Challenge by EKU
This time around, Centre had a serious rival just down the road. Eastern Kentucky University also was lobbying for a debate with the strength of a huge, recently opened performance arts center run by Debra Hoskins, who was hired away from the Norton Center for the Arts in Danville. Hoskins was at Centre when the 2000 debate was held there.
Hoskins said Monday that she had not had any discussion with the Commission on Presidential Debates about why EKU wasn't chosen.
"I felt that Eastern had put every effort out in first-class fashion in their application," Hoskins said.
At the time that representatives of the Commission on Presidential Debates visited the EKU Center for the Arts "the facility wasn't complete. We didn't even have seats in the venue at that time. Since then, they received photos of the facility and they wrote back emails that said 'Wow, that place is first class. It's beautiful.' So we thought we had a good chance."
The EKU bid was supported by U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Louisville, EKU officials said.
"Naturally, we are disappointed that we were not selected," EKU President Doug Whitlock said in a statement Monday. "But it was an honor to have been considered, and we certainly wish each of the successful campuses the best as they prepare to host debates next year. I am especially pleased for our friends at Centre College."
Hoskins said she believes EKU will try for another debate in 2016.
In Danville, the 2000 debate had a powerful effect on the entire community.
"It gave us a lot of exposure and demonstrated to the world at large that Danville/Boyle County can put on a class show," said Boyle County Judge-Executive Harold McKinney.
He said he watched the debate on a big screen outside of Norton with many other Boyle County residents.
"It's a great way to pull the community together," he said, adding that it will also help Kentucky's image.
"The eyes of the world will be on Kentucky. How many times does that happen outside of the Kentucky Derby and the NCAA playoffs?"
Roush said he also looks forward to the debate's benefits for students.
"Of all the good things that came from our efforts in 2000, the most important and pleasing to me was the great educational opportunities provided to our students, and I look forward to an even more exciting time for Centre students in 2012," he said.
"The debate is in the bag," Roush said as he jokingly held up a canvas bag and let it float down to the crowd of students and Danville community members who turned out to celebrate.
The debate is expected to bring between 5,000 and 10,000 visitors to Danville.
"Especially for a town like Danville and for Centre — it's a huge deal," said Brian Klosterboer, the president of the Centre College Student Government Association.
'Hearty congratulations'
News about the debate also excited Kentucky political leaders.
Gov. Steve Beshear offered his "hearty congratulations," saying "Centre provides a rich academic tradition and an emphasis on civic engagement that the selection committee has clearly found very compelling."
Kentucky Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson and McConnell also sent kudos: "Centre and the city of Danville received rave reviews for its handling of the 2000 Cheney/Lieberman debate, and I have no doubt they will rise to the occasion once again and make this debate a huge success," McConnell said.
Les Fugate, executive vice president for the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, was chairman of the Centre College Republicans in 2000.
"It was simply extraordinary. It was my first true exposure to politics," said Fugate, then a junior who gave numerous interviews to local and international media covering the debate and later landed a job as spokesman for Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson.
Fugate said he would encourage Centre students "to get involved in the debate."
"It's a lot of work and a lot of money to host such a debate but there is no question that it is worth it," Fugate said. "Centre will get much national publicity and students will never be able to replicate such an experience."
What's not yet known is who will actually be standing at the podiums.
University of Louisville political science professor Dewey Clayton, who wrote a book about President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, said he expects Vice President Joe Biden will run again with Obama next year on the Democratic ticket.
"There has been talk about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton getting the nod but I expect Biden will be the Democratic nominee," Clayton said. "There's no need for a change unless you need a change. Biden has been steady as vice president."
As for who might be the Republican nominee for vice president, Clayton said, "Who can answer that? We don't even know who will be the Republican nominee for president."
