With the election determining the next governor in November, Gov. Haley Barbour and his Democratic opponent John Eaves will debate in Lee Hall on Thursday night. The original proposal for the debate was released during August and letters were sent out to all of the candidates on Sept. 10; however, both campaigns finally agreed upon the Sept. 25 date.
The debate is scheduled to last for one hour and will include opening speeches given by both candidates and will close with a question-and-answer session.
Lori Holland, president of the Stennis-Montgomery Association, will serve as the debate’s moderator.
The panelists include MSU alumnus, anchor and WCBI reporter Andrea Self, and Charlie Mitchell, executive editor of the Vicksburg Post.
SMA head Marty Wiseman said the only times most people see the candidates are on television in advertisements, so these types of debates are beneficial.
“I think that it is important for universities to demonstrate their concern over who is elected to be governor over Mississippi,” Wiseman said.
He said he believes debates help show people how candidates think on their feet.
Holland said it is a key opportunity for candidates to come to a university campus.
“I believe that students are a very influential part of elections,” she said.
The debate is a bipartisan event and both Democrats and Republicans were given 150 tickets each to make sure that one party does not have an unfair advantage, Holland said. Each group will be allowed to ask a certain amount of questions during the session and only one question will be answered.
“It is important for students, faculty and the community to be able to see them in a non-scripted way,” Wiseman said.
The debate was coordinated with the help of campus organizations including the Student Association, College Democrats, College Republicans and the Political Research Center at Mitchell Memorial Library.
“A debate like this is not possible without multiple campus groups’ involvement,” Holland said.
Doors will open an hour early to ensure that everyone who wants to come will be seated. College Republicans and Democrats will provide reserve seating for the event. The debate is free of charge and is open to the public. The first three rows will be reserved for reporters and news crew members covering the debate.
After the debate, booths will be set up for people to take the opportunity to register to vote.
Students who have not yet registered are encouraged to do so.
“Students have the possibility of having a big impact on elections,” Holland said.
Wiseman said the SMA wanted the debate to be student-run.
“[The students] are doing a fabulous job of putting this program together,” he said.
Holland said the Stennis-Montgomery Association is expecting a good turnout.
The debate will kick off at 7 p.m. at Lee Hall Auditorium. For more information, contact the Stennis-Montgomery Association at 325-9480.