University officials finalizing plans for campus during debate

The university will announce details next week in letters to students, faculty and staff.

Initial plans call for news media to be parked off campus and brought to campus in shuttles that run continuously in the final few days leading up to the Oct. 11 debate in Wait Chapel. Broadcast network trucks and equipment will occupy some parking lots on campus, particularly those close to the chapel.

Other lots will be closed for a few days to meet a number of other debate-related needs and requirements, including security concerns.

Closing lots will require faculty and staff, as well as some students, to park in lots near campus and take shuttles to the university. The shuttles will run around the clock from lots that are staffed by security personnel.

At this point, plans call for Wait Chapel, the adjoining Wingate Hall, and Benson University Center to be used for activities associated with the debate. The debate will be held in the chapel. Wingate Hall will provide offices for various groups involved in the debate, including the Commission on Presidential Debates, and Benson University Center will serve as the debate media center.

There are no plans to vacate residence halls.

“Right now, we’re looking into which other spaces on campus might be needed to accommodate the large number of people we will have on campus,” said Sandra Boyette, vice president for university advancement. “With input from the Commission on Presidential Debates, we hope to have most decisions made this week.”

Wingate Hall is the only classroom building affected by debate preparations. Claudia Kairoff, associate dean of the College, has made arrangements for classes that meet in Wingate Hall to meet elsewhere from Oct. 6 to Oct 13. Professors will advise students where those classes will meet.

There is no plan to cancel classes during the week of the debate.

The Reynolda Hall cafeteria and the Information Systems Building food court, as well as the Sundry Shop and North Campus Convenience Store, will be open during the week of the debate. The food court in Benson University Center will not be open for faculty, staff and students for a number of days since the building will be operating as media center. The Magnolia Room may be closed for some days. Alternative arrangements are being made to accommodate for campus dining needs.

Students, faculty and staff can expect further details by late next week and can visit the university’s debate Web site for updates at http://debate.wfu.edu.