Community chips in to accomodate preparations for national debate

by Clay Holtzman

and Jeff Proctor

Daily Lobo

Party officials bore the lion's share of the organizational duties for Thursday's Democratic presidential debate, but that's not to say the UNM community didn't make its own contributions.

The entire Center for the Arts was closed for the event, classes were canceled and a perimeter was established around the building - prohibiting access to all but ticket holders, workers and media.

Paula Loendorf, UNM director of telecommunications, said outlets for an additional 200 telephone lines, 200 Ethernet connections and several cable television ports were installed to accommodate the scores of national media expected to attend the debate.

"It's been quite a bit of work coordinating with the various entities," Loendorf said.

The University also converted two classrooms and a meeting room inside the Center for the Arts for journalists, said Dupuy Bateman, UNM associate vice president of Auxiliary Services.

About 3,000 invitations to the debate with an R.S.V.P. deadline were distributed across the nation, said Joe Velasquez, a political consultant overseeing ticket distribution for the event.

But six television camera platforms reduced Popejoy's capacity to about 1,800, sending overflow invitation holders to the SUB and the Hyatt Hotel to watch the event on big-screen televisions, Velasquez said.

UNM's College Democrats also contributed to the debate by serving as liaisons between campaign managers and the University. They advised democrats on logistical work and volunteered services.

"I think it's important for the political players to be wary of young voters," said Marshall Martinez, co-chairman of the College Democrats.

Campus police coordinated with the Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico State Police to secure Popejoy and a large perimeter around the Center for the Arts including Redondo Drive, stretching from Stanford Drive to Yale Boulevard.

Both visitor parking lots and the A lot near Johnson Center were closed for the debate as well.