FAMU should bid to host a 2012 presidential debate

Imagine U.S. President Barack Obama’s motorcade pulling up on Wahnish Way. The cars, led by flashing-light police motorcycles with blaring sirens, swing by FAMU DRS to pick up First Lady Michelle Obama, who just finished reading to a first grade class. Then, the vehicles speed over to the Teaching Gymnasium, where America’s first family exits their jet black, bullet-proof limousine surrounded by Secret Service officers.

Their appearance ignites screams of adulation from thousands of FAMU students, carrying signs saying “Four More Years!” Just before the Obamas step inside, Band Director Julian White cues the Marching 100 to start playing “Hail to the Chief.”


Minutes later GOP challenger Mike Huckabee, waving and grinning big, also heads toward the building with his entourage. Brian Williams, broadcasting NBC’s Nightly News live from the television studio in FAMU’s J-School, announces that both candidates have arrived and then remarks how much he enjoyed lecturing in Lee Hall earlier in the day. Gwen Ifill is already in place inside the gym, ready to moderate her first presidential debate.

This scene could become reality if Rattlers simply pool their political resources and use their ingenuity. With the new construction on FAMU’s campus, the university could very well qualify to host one of the three presidential candidate face-offs that will take place in 2012.

The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) requires the following facilities:

Debate Hall: Venue for the main event. Ex: Ole Miss’ Ford Center, the site of last week’s debate, seats 1,250.
-FAMU's New Teaching Gymnasium will have a 9,000 seating capacity.

Media Filing Center: A working press room for the roughly 3,000 reporters who will be present. Ex: Ole Miss used a white tent area outside the Ford Center.
-Gaither Gymnasium has a 3,350 person capacity. A white tent on Bragg Stadium’s field could easily hold 3,000+ persons, as well.

Media Interview Center: A space close to the Media Filing Center to be used for press interviews before, during, and after the debate; 5,000 sq. ft. required
-FAMU's Recreation Center has 39,000 sq. ft.

Accreditation Center: A place for disseminating credentials and information; 3,000 sq. ft. required.
-The New FAMU DRS will have 116,000 sq. ft.

Barack and Michelle Obama’s recent appearances at FAMU have raised the university’s profile as a major campaign stop for presidential hopefuls. Additionally the university has very experienced lobbyists/politicos who could work the Washington, DC-based CPD, including: Director of Governmental Relations Tola Thompson and alumni Congressional Reps Corrine Brown, Alcee Hastings, Kendrick Meek, and David Scott. Furthermore, Florida’s status as a perennial battleground state will make it an appealing debate site.

Let’s not permit the momentum we’ve received during the 2008 election cycle to decline. It’s time to dream bigger dreams and take FAMU’s political presence to the next level.

Read more about Ole Miss' journey toward hosting a presidential debate here.

Also check out Professor Dorothy Bland and FAMUan editor Akeem Anderson's op-eds about last Saturday's "Change We Need Voter Registration Rally." Additionally, Capital Outlook Photographer Van Wilson just posted a large gallery of pictures from the event.

FAMU: Florida's most talked-about university in Election 2008