Penn State news by
Penn State's student blog

Topics

More

Ron Paul/Carl Bernstein ‘Great Debate’ Canceled

Update (March 18): Harris sent the following statement, announcing that plans for the event had been derailed.

“It’s quite unfortunate that we will not be able to host another Great Debate. The event would have served as a tremendous follow-up to last years debate between Robert Gibbs and Newt Gingrich and a great way to cap off the year. Complications like this happen in the world of politics, but we won’t skip a beat. Congressman Glenn Thompson will be joining us on Monday, March 17th, and on March 25th we will be hosting the NRA for their NRAU seminar. 

“It is a testament to UPUA, and to the long standing relationship between the College Republicans and College Democrats at Penn State. We may disagree ideologically on a myriad of issues but at the core we both understand the importance of engaging our fellow students in the political process. I am thankful to Nadia and to their organization for their work on this.

“Even in the absence of a second Great Debate we could not be more proud of the list of events, speakers, and seminars that the College Republicans have hosted in the past few years. Our accomplishments and rapid growth have been unprecedented, and we are no where near our ceiling. Truth Week 2014 will be here before you know it.”

Original Story
The year of great speakers at Penn State will continue, College Republicans President Jordan Harris confirmed yesterday. Plans are falling in place for libertarian icon Ron Paul and Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein to debate on campus in April, pending funding approval from UPUA and UPAC. The evening is being dubbed as the “Great Debate” following the inaugural event with Newt Gingrich and Robert Gibbs last year.

“We’re incredibly excited for the potential of welcoming Dr. Paul to campus,” Harris said. “It’s going to be more of a discussion this time, but the two figures will offer strong contrasting views on a broad range of issues from the state of the American economy to America’s role in the world.”

The event will take place on April 15 at Eisenhower Auditorium, if UPUA and UPAC approve the funding. The venue and speaker schedules have been reserved, and UPUA will likely vote on a co-sponsorship next week, with UPAC to follow soon after. The College Democrats and Young Americans for Freedom, along with the College Republicans, are also lined up to sponsor.

“The chance to follow up last year’s debate between Robert Gibbs and Newt Gingrich with two enormous figures like Dr. Paul and Carl Bernstein, who have both been keys to shaping the political landscape in the past 50 years, is tremendous,” Harris said. “No other university in the country can boast such magnificent events and we are both positive and hopeful that everything can fall in to place to make it happen here at Penn State.”

Information on how to obtain free tickets will be released in the coming weeks, pending approval.

Paul is most certainly one of the biggest “rockstars” in politics to the college audience. He represented Texas in Congress until retiring in 2013, and was a stalwart for libertarian, free market politics. The three-time presidential candidate will be returning to Pennsylvania, having grown up just outside of Pittsburgh and graduated from Gettysburg College.

Bernstein won a Pulitzer Prize in 1973 at the Washington Post for his coverage of the Watergate scandal. He is currently a CNN contributor and has authored or co-authored six books. Penn State’s journalism department is certainly happy; Bernstein’s counterpart at the Post during the Richard Nixon scandal, Bob Woodward, will be on campus next week at a different event sponsored by SPA.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Kevin Horne

Kevin Horne was the editor of Onward State from 2012-2014 and currently holds the position of Managing Editor Emeritus, which is a fake title he made up. He graduated from Penn State with degrees journalism and political science in 2014 and is currently seeking his J.D. at the Penn State Dickinson School of Law. A third generation Penn Stater from Williamsport, Pa., Kevin is also the president of the graduate student government. Email: [email protected]

DuBois Goodwill Sells Rare Lego Piece For Over $18,000

While it took some time for Goodwill experts to know what they had on their hands, initial offers for the piece came in at $30,000.

New Defensive Coordinator Tom Allen Brings Key Wrinkles To Penn State Football’s Defense

“We try to keep things simple so we can play fast.”

Women’s History Month: Five Influential Penn State Alumnae

To celebrate Women’s History Month, learn more about five influential Penn State alumnae.

Follow on Another Platform
113kFollowers
164kFollowers
59.4kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Other posts by Kevin

Hometown Brewery Releases Beer Honoring Evan Pugh

Penn State’s first president Evan Pugh was born in 1828 at Jordan Bank Farm, three miles south of the city center of Oxford, Pennsylvania, an hour west of Philadelphia in Chester County. One-hundred eighty-nine years later, an Oxford brewery is honoring one of the preeminent champions of “liberal and practical” higher education in the form of a delicious Porter.

Penn State Basketball Downs Colgate 72-59 In Front of Thanksgiving Eve Crowd

Why Honoring Paterno Still Matters