Note to editors and news directors: Seating and parking for media covering the UA debate are limited. Media who wish to cover the debate are required to contact the UA Office of University Relations by Sept. 8 to request media credentials and a parking pass. Call 205/348-5320 or e-mail Cathy Andreen at candreen@ur.ua.edu or Bill McDaniel at bmcdaniel@ur.ua.edu.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Student Government Associations at The University of Alabama and Auburn University and the League of Women Voters of Alabama will host gubernatorial debates on the UA and AU campuses this fall.
The first debate between gubernatorial candidates Dr. Robert Bentley and Commissioner Ron Sparks will be from 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 16 in the Moody Music Concert Hall on the UA campus. NPR News national correspondent and UA graduate Debbie Elliot will serve as moderator.
Auburn will host the second debate at 7 p.m., Oct. 19 in the AU Student Center Ballroom.
In addition to the UA and Auburn SGAs and the League of Women Voters, both debates will be sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP).
The debates will be broadcast live on Alabama Public Television, Alabama Public Radio and al.com.
Tickets for the Sept. 16 debate will be available free to UA students on a first-come, first-served basis. Students should visit www.decisionalabama.ua.edu for information on the online ticket distribution process. Tickets will not be available at the door and no tickets will be offered to the general public.
“Our team inside of SGA has been working on this debate for a year and a half, and we’re so excited to provide this service not only to members of the UA community but to all Alabama citizens,” said Jimmy Young, UA gubernatorial debate coordinator. “This debate serves as the perfect forum for both Commissioner Sparks and Dr. Bentley to share their ideas for the future of our state with all Alabamians through the live broadcast on APT, APR and al.com.”
“As an SGA, we’ve had wonderful partners in the League of Women Voters, the Chambers of Commerce and ADAP in setting up this premiere event,” said James Fowler, UA SGA president. “We’re looking forward to having both candidates on campus. I hope this debate will be a conduit for the discussion of pressing issues facing the state of Alabama in the next four years.”
The League of Women Voters is currently soliciting questions to be asked during the debate. Questions may be submitted online at www.decisionalabama.ua.edu, sent by e-mail to 2010gubernatorialdebate@gmail.com or mailed to P.O. Box 1326, Tuscaloosa AL 35403-1326. Questions must be received by 9 a.m., Sept. 13 for the UA debate and by 9 a.m., Oct. 16 for the Auburn debate.
Questions should involve issues of statewide interest, be addressed to both candidates and contain no personal attacks, profanity or obscenity. The questions will be compiled by a committee of League of Women Voters’ members, and will not be presented to the candidates, their political parties, the moderator, the media or any other entity before the debate. The League of Women Voters is a non partisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government.
For more information, visit www.decisionalabama.ua.edu.
Contact
Cathy Andreen, director of media relations, 205/348-8322 or candreen@ur.ua.edu