Today was the kickoff event for the first Presidential debate here in Oxford, Mississippi. We will be the first hosts of the first Presidential debate of this election, and with that comes great responsibility. As Chancellor Khayat stated in his speech at the Lyceum today, our first and only role in this is hospitality. He made a forceful point in saying, ″We are hosts, and that’s it.″
We have been told again and again and again throughout the remaining days before this election that we are to remain nonpartisan throughout the duration of the debate, something that I know will be hard for many passionate politician fans. There are even signs in my sorority house that ask us to please not accept any interview offers from the media while they are here and to politely say, ″No thank you.″ While I am not naïve and know that many people will not abide by the University’s pleas to avoid anything that will portray the University of Mississippi, the state of Mississippi, and the South itself in a bad light, I am sure there will be incidents of ″passionate politics″ so to speak from some of our fellow classmates and fellow Oxfordians.
I am thrilled of the role as host I have been given in this exciting adventure at the end of the week, but I cant lie, I am interested in the incidents that will occur from others who have not been given such a clear definition of host thus far. I think this week will prove to be one of the most talked about and remembered weeks of the year, if not of college itself. So come on Oxford lets see what you have in store for this debate! (But lets please keep it away from the front page of the rest of the world, as if that could ever be possible.)