GOP Debate at Dartmouth

The GOP Debate at Dartmouth College taking place this Tuesday, October 11th will be a memorable moment for students, faculty, and staff.  Every four years, students at the College on the Hill are fortunate to experience grassroots politics firsthand in New Hampshire.  President Kim said, “One of the privileges of a Dartmouth education is that every four years our students have the opportunity to engage in the democratic process by participating in the first-in-the-nation primary. Dartmouth has a tradition of bringing presidential candidates to campus and we look forward to doing so again this year.”  Sponsors of the debate include Blooomberg TV, WBIN-TV, The Washington Post, and The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and Social Sciences.

The enthusiasm of students is indicated by the hundreds of volunteers assisting with debate preparation. Students have opportunities to work with media; assist the campaigns and candidates; and volunteer and attend the Student Watch Party that will take place in Leede Arena.  A few candidates have made arrangements to stop by Leede to give a speech and meet the students after the debate.  

The last Democratic debate in 2007 drew much zeal and support from the many liberals that inhabit this conservative Ivy; no protests occurred.  This year, not to anyone’s surprise, “Students Stand With Staff” and a group advocating for AIDS funding will be rallying.  Any Dartmouth student who claims they are a liberal but is against SmartChoice – a meal plan that benefits the DDS monopoly – should seriously reconsider their political views.  Regarding the latter, in 2008 President Bushed passed legislation that tripled American funding to fight AIDS.  

Courtesy of Professor Slayton, TDR readers are welcome to attend a pre-debate dinner that will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 with Griffin Perry, Governor Perry’s son, at SAE.  There will also be a Debate Watch Party at Beta that will take place from 8 to 10:30.  Family members of Governor Perry will attend, and the presidential candidate will stop by after the debate to say hello.  

The Dartmouth Review will be live blogging the GOP debate starting at 7:30, a half hour before the debate takes place.  Make sure to check DartReview.com for updates!