The Indiana Debate Commission will proceed with plans for a live broadcast of the U.S. Senate debate scheduled for Tuesday night in New Albany despite an orchestrated run on tickets made by union workers on the campus of Indiana University Southeast this week.
“This is unfortunate, but we’ve received assurances from various union officials that this debate will not be disrupted and that our rules and policies will be followed on debate night,” said Max Jones, president of the commission and editor of the Tribune-Star newspaper in Terre Haute, in a press release issued Thursday night.
Jones said union organizers have assured him they would agree to conditions set by the commission — no organized outbursts, no wearing of political or union apparel and removal of any participant who disturbs the live broadcast.
More than half of the 500 tickets were claimed this Tuesday at the venue box office in about an hour by people wearing United Auto Worker attire and who arrived on campus in groups, according to box office personnel. The public was notified via local media Friday that tickets were available to claim during box office hours. The box office is closed on Mondays.
The mid-morning run on tickets occurred at a busy time on campus when an estimated 1,000 school children and buses were on campus for activities under way at the Paul W. Ogle Cultural & Community Center.
“Our goal is to provide open and public access in public venues that are generously donated,” said Jones. “The commission will not cancel the debate so that the other ticket holders and Hoosier voters who legitimately claimed their tickets can hear directly from the candidates.”
The board voted late Thursday afternoon to proceed with the debate as scheduled and notified the candidates and their campaign managers. University officials will be providing additional security for the debate, including campus police and other law enforcement agencies.
This is the first time in the commission’s history that an orchestrated ticket run has taken place. The New Albany debate for U.S. Senate candidates is the last debate of the season scheduled in a public venue before a live audience.
The debate will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Paul W. Ogle Cultural & Community Center on the campus of IU Southeast. Debating will be Libertarian Andrew Horning, Democrat Joe Donnelly and Republican Richard Mourdock.
Tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis Tuesday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Ogle Center box office. Up to two tickets will be given per person.
Ticket-holders are encouraged to arrive early and plan on being seated up to 30 minutes before the broadcast begins. Doors open at 6 p.m. The debate will be broadcast on public television.
Voters can submit questions for the debate on the IDC website at indianadebatecommission.com.
For more information, check the IDC website or call the box office at 812-941-2526.
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SO YOU KNOW
• The Indiana Debate Commission is a non-partisan, statewide group representing 13 citizen and media affiliates dedicated to promoting debates at the state level. The volunteer commission, which incorporated in 2007 and is organized as a 501(c)3, works with candidates, venues and citizen groups to promote open, unbiased and transparent debates for Hoosier voters.
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