As many as 250 media representatives are expected on campus Saturday, Oct. 7
for the only scheduled debate between the state’s two leading candidates
for governor - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and State Treasurer Phil Angelides.
The debate is being co-hosted by Sacramento State and the California Broadcasters
Association. It will be held in the Music Recital Hall in Capistrano Hall.
The debate begins at 6 p.m. and will last for one hour. It is expected to be
carried live on the major networks, as well as some cable channels and radio
stations, and it will include a simultaneous Spanish translation and closed
captioning. It will also be televised via closed circuit at a number of campus
locations.
Seating will be limited to about 300 guests. As a co-host, Sacramento State
will receive a share of those invitations, as will the Broadcasters Association
and the two campaigns.
Sacramento State will be inviting 50 members of the campus community –
including at least 15 students – and 25 friends and supporters from the
community. The Associated Students, Faculty Senate and University Staff Assembly
are assisting with those invitations.
There will be a strong security presence around Capistrano Hall the day before
and the day of the debate, including on- and off-campus law enforcement personnel.
Campus access to the entire building will be somewhat limited late Friday and
there will be no access on Saturday.
Hosting gubernatorial debates is nothing new to the campus. Along with the California
Broadcasters Association, Sacramento State hosted the 2003 Recall Debate featuring
the five leading candidates – an event that attracted worldwide attention.
And in 1998, the campus and Broadcasters hosted a debate featuring Gray Davis
and Dan Lungren.
As with those other debates, units from across campus are involved with making
this one a success. As a co-host, the campus is handling issues such as parking,
facilities, telecommunications and general logistics – and is assisting
with media relations and security. The Broadcasters Association is responsible
for debate format, media access and additional hard costs related to the event.
For more information, contact Sacramento State Public Affairs at 278-6156 or
infodesk@csus.edu.
