Wright State withdraws from presidential debate
Wright State University is withdrawing as host of the first presidential debate scheduled for Sept. 26 at the Nutter Center.
Wright State withdraws from presidential debate
Wright State University will not host the first presidential debate, which was scheduled for September 26 at the Nutter Center in Dayton.
According to the Dayton Daily News, WSU President David Hopkins cited "escalating costs for security and the inability to raise enough money from community and state to cover what could be as much as $8 million to host the event". The decision was also motivated in part by security concerns following the recent terrorist attack in Nice, France. “I can’t assure the safety of our students and the community,” Hopkins said.
The Commission on Presidential Debates had first announced last September that Wright State University has been selected to host one of only four general election debates in the fall of this year. “I wanted it so much for our students,” Hopkins said. “I hate this decision. It hurts my heart.”
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley released a statement this afternoon expressing her disappointment at the decision. "We were looking forward to the opportunity to showcase our region, highlight the economic progress we are making and focus national attention on the issues that matter most to our constituents" said Whaley. "However, as the swing region in perhaps the most important swing state,we will fortunately have other opportunities to interact with presidential candidates in the coming months and impart on them the needs of working families in Ohio."
The first presidential debate on September 26 will now move to New York's Hofstra University on Long Island. The shift means the first debate will be held in the home state of the two major parties' presumptive nominees, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. The other two debates are scheduled to be Washington University in St. Louis on October 9 followed by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on October 19. The vice presidential debate will be held at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, on October 4.
