<p>Anyone got tickets to go the VP debate on Thursday? According to DS, only 300 students were selected from the lottery and it is not yet known how many of those will be able to attend the debate. Unfortunately he was not one of the lucky ones.</p>
<p>D and her 3 roommates also received "no" e-mails regarding VP debate tickets. She said only 300 out of nearly 8,000 who put their name in the lottery supposedly received tickets. She was disappointed, but the odds weren't good. She also hasn't heard of anyone who DID get selected.</p>
<p>My D was one of the lucky 300. She was told that although the tickets had not been allocated yet to WashU students, she should show up at a particular time and place before the debate dressed in "business casual," and she would likely get in.</p>
<p>S was one of the 300. As above, no guarantee they will get in as the number of tix alloted to students is fluid right up until show time. He seems to think they will get tix in lottery number order, but does not know his number. They have to gather in a spot, go through security, then get bussed over to site. Using a bus is sort of funny when the dorms are just a few hundred feet from the debate. Still, a cool experience and we are happy he has a chance.</p>
<p>So jealous! I'm so sure it will be an amazing experience for all who get the opportunity to attend.</p>
<p>I'm jealous too! I was sooooo hoping S would get to go.</p>
<p>Heard on the radio this afternoon that only 150 of the 7500 students who applied will be getting tickets.</p>
<p>Just got the post debate report...</p>
<p>When they showed up, they learned their number, and they were taken in groups in number order. S was around 250, and he did get in. Perhaps there were no shows in front of him, otherwise they let in at least that many. He could not see very well, but could hear.</p>
<p>He says he was literally rubbing elbows with Senators, Governors, and Danforths! (The Danforths get their own category apparently). Anyway, sounds like a great exprience.</p>
<p>I was sitting next to someone whose number was in the 400s, so apparently they gave a lot more tickets away than they have in the past. It was such an exciting opportunity, and it's great that WashU is committed to giving their tickets to students!!!</p>
<p>I think the exact number was 432, if I'm remember what StudLife reported correctly. Last debate was 150.</p>
<p>There is an article with specifics on the student newspaper website located at Student</a> Life. In the article they said that until the room is actually set up, with camera equipment etc..., they do not know how many chairs will fit in the remaining area. In this case, they were able to fit many chairs - but a high number of the seats had limited views. When the school learned that far more seats would be available than anticipated, they gave tickets to all the students with a lottery "maybe" and STILL had more than 40 tickets remaining. Because of the short lead-time, going to non-lottery winners was not possible, and the administration did not feel that it was appropriate to give the tickets to faculty or staff, so the remaining tickets were given to student leaders - kids known to the administration.</p>
<p>My daughters did not receive tickets, in any manner, but were very enthusiastic about seeing the periphery - the media interest, Chris Matthews, security, etc... Both watched the debate on TV and it is so interesting to me that they were strongly listening. Perhaps they would have had as much interest if they weren't at Wash. U... but I doubt it. </p>
<p>I think being able to participate in such a bellweather political event will be something they both will remember forever. </p>
<p>It was reported on MSNBC that hosting the debate cost 1.3 million - some of the cost covered by Wash U. Even in these tough times, I suspect the investment was a good one. The PR was terrific (Chris Matthews kept calling all the Wash. U. students "smart" and the weather was absolutely perfect, the campus looked as beautiful in all the live-shot backgrounds as when prospective students are visiting - flower beds were perfection, etc...) As for the students who were able to witness this first-hand, you can't teach the lessons learned in a classroom.</p>
<p>To add to that: It was a tremendous investment and a total success for the school. Chris Matthews referred to WashU as one of the most prestigious colleges in the country. Wolf Blitzer on CNN said that WashU has one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Students that were interviewed by Matthews looked and sounded smart and thoughtful.</p>
<p>School was a little disappointed not to get a presidential debate when the debates were awarded. What a windfall it turned out to be: 70 million people watched the debate</p>
<p>The campus was really alive all day. I may not have gotten to go into the actual debate hall, but it was fairly awesome none-the-less.</p>