Date: Apr 27, 2007

Commission on Presidential Debates makes site visit to Hofstra University

Hofstra officials, local political leaders pledge full support for Hofstra's bid for a presidential debate

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – The Commission on Presidential Debates met with Hofstra officials and local political leaders yesterday as part of Hofstra’s bid to host a 2008 presidential or vice presidential debate. Hofstra is the only site being considered in New York State.

Click here to see video of the visit.

Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz, Board of Trustees Chairman John D. Miller and other senior administrators met with Marty Slutsky, executive producer for the Commission, and his staff and Special Agent Craig Wisniewsky of the United States Secret Service to examine Hofstra’s proposal for a debate. That included touring campus facilities such as the Physical Fitness Center and David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, which would be the site of the actual debate.

The commission opened the early portion of its meeting to the news media, with President Rabinowitz summarizing Hofstra’s strengths for hosting a debate, including its experience producing 11 presidential conferences. He also pledged that a presidential debate at Hofstra would be very much a "student-centered" event with Hofstra students participating in and learning from the experience.

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, New York State Sen. Dean Skelos and other political representatives pledged their support for Hofstra’s application. Mr. Slutsky said he was impressed by the show of support from the University and from state, county and local officials and indicated that Hofstra would be a good location for a presidential or vice presidential debate, which had not been held in this part of the country for many years. 

President Rabinowitz, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Skelos New York State Sen. Kemp Hannon, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and Hempstead Village Mayor Wayne J. Hall met with reporters briefly during a break in the meeting. The political leaders pledged support for Hofstra’s bid and spoke about the positive impact a debate would have on the local economy.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students find their edge to succeed in more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 23 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis.

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