IOP Celebrates Big Night of Politics

The Institute of Politics and Harvard student political organizations will celebrate the first presidential debate with a slew of events, including an appearance by Ralph Nader.

The Green Party presidential candidate will appear at the Ames Courtroom in Austin Hall at 5:30 p.m.

Organizers say the location may change depending upon student interest.

The details of Nader's visit, which has been in the works for several weeks, were still being finalized as of yesterday.

At 7 p.m. in the ARCO Forum, author and journalism professor Alan Schroeder will lead a discussion about the top 10 moments in presidential debate history.

"We will see the top 10 debate moments and talk about the context of the 10 clips," said Bill White, the IOP Forum Director.

Jason T. Sauer '02, the student chair of the Forum, said the program is intended "to see what to look for" in the debate.

A pre-debate reception with food follows, where the large projection screen will show CNN's coverage of the pre-debate preparations downtown.

And at 9 p.m., the IOP will show the debate.

In Boston, students can attend the debate-watching parties for their candidates, but strict limitations have been placed on the number of students who can participate.

Robert R. Porter '00-'02, chair of Harvard Students for Bush, said he "sent out a big e-mail for the 450 person GOP list," highlighting a pre-debate rally at 7 p.m.

Fifty students will also have the chance to be a part of the "roving rally team"--a bus entourage that will target areas around the debate site that need an influx of Bush supporters, Porter said.

Students willing to spend $125 may also attend a pre-debate fundraiser with Governor Bush, Gov. A. Paul Cellucci and U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.), though Porter said he could get "30 to 40 students in."

Then there's the debate-watching party itself, to be held at the Murphy Memorial Rink in South Boston. Bush himself will make a post-debate appearance.

College Democrats have also mobilized forces for the vice president. They estimate 300 Harvard students will join a pre-debate rally in Columbus Park, which adjoins the U-Mass campus.

About 100 to 150 of them will be able to attend a Gore debate-watching party at the Park Plaza hotel, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Given student interest, College Democrat President Marc Stad '01 said he is "directing students to the IOP" because "we just don't have enough space."

The IOP will allow postering for candidates. Both the College Democrats and Republicans will set up tables with literature. Students will also be able to register to vote in the forum during the debates.

"We should still have a pretty good crowd and an even better crowd for the debates that aren't around here," Sauer said.

Other featured events include an Kennedy School panel discussion on the debates at the Weston-Copley Hotel from 12 to 2 p.m.

It will feature Government Professor emeritus Richard E. Neustadt, Public Service Professor David Gergen and Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press Thomas Patterson. Maxine Isaacs, a lecturer on public policy at the Kennedy School, will moderate.