Shays-Himes Congressional Debate 2008 | Press Releases

Hosted by Students at Fairfield University

Fairfield University students will host and participate as questioners in a congressional debate with the incumbent Republican, Congressman Christopher Shays of Bridgeport and the Democratic challenger Jim Himes of Cos Cob on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7:00 p.m. - sharp - at the Quick Center for the Arts. The debate will be carried live on CPTV. It will be simulcast on WNPR/WVOF with hosts Ray Hardman from CPTV's Front & Center and John Dankosky from WNPR's Where We Live. Professor Philip Eliasoph, director of Open VISIONS Forum, will moderate. The Kelley Theatre doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the audience is asked to take their seats by 6:45 p.m. in preparation for the live broadcast. The event is free and the public is welcome.

The student panel questioning the Republican and Democratic candidates vying for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives includes Karla Carpenter '09, president of the Young Republicans and Carol Cirota '09, president of the Young Democrats, one more student from each club and Augusta Mellon '09, a reporter for the Ham Channel News 64 and WVOF, the student television and radio stations.

The debate topics will focus on three specific areas: national and domestic issues, international and foreign issues and issues of education, faith and service.

A portion of time is allotted for audience-generated questions. The public is encouraged to submit questions for the debate through the University website.

For further information, please contact (203) 254-4110.