Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush and Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Al Gore shake hands prior to the start of their presidential debate at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, October 3, 2000.

Be a part of history
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

Planning is currently under way for the University of Miami to host the first presidential debate of 2004, which will be held on September 30 at the Convocation Center on the Coral Gables campus. The University is working closely with the Commission on Presidential Debates to provide UM students with a variety of volunteer opportunities in the preparation of this historic event -- a key moment in presidential electoral politics.

The University knows there is a great deal of interest from faculty, staff, alumni, and the community to assist with the debate. However, most volunteer opportunities have been reserved for enrolled students. More than 300 student volunteers have already been selected.

Student Volunteers

Additional student volunteers will be needed to assist in a variety of capacities: serve in the office of the Commission on Presidential Debates, the media filing center, and political party offices; help organize and carry out debate watch parties, voter registration, and campus events; and serve as tour guides and campus couriers.

New students (students enrolling for their first semester of classes at UM) interested in applying to be a volunteer must complete a Student Volunteer Application, which is available online or by stopping by the University Center #228. The application deadline for students is Tuesday, September 7, 2004 at 5 p.m. Applications are to be submitted to the Office of Student Life, University Center #228. Interviews for volunteer positions will be held September 7-9, 2004. Students must schedule an interview time when submitting the application.

Only students who plan to be enrolled at the University of Miami for the 2004 fall semester are eligible to apply to volunteer.

The application and interview process for returning students was conducted during the spring 2004 semester. Unfortunately, applications are no longer being accepted for returning students.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT VOLUNTEERING WILL NOT BE A MEANS TO OBTAIN A TICKET TO THE LIVE DEBATE.

For additional information on volunteering, contact the Office of Student Life, University Center #228 at 305-284-2805 or e-mail debate.volunteers@miami.edu.

Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore, right, points to Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush, as he answers a question from moderator Jim Lehrer, center, during their second debate in Wait Chapel at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., October 11, 2000.