Talking Stick - July/August 2008 - 36

when PolitiCs Come to Your town venue on the days leading up to the debate. Anyone inside the venue on the day of the debate must go through a metal detector and must be wearing a credential issued by the U.S. Secret Service. On the day of and the day before the debate, anyone on our campus is required to carry a Washington University ID – so we close the campus to outsiders (unless, of course, they’ve been credentialed by the Secret Service).” Wild adds that the Commission on Presidential Debates coordinates housing for candidates and their staff, placing them off campus, as the university is in session during the debate. How college and university officials deal with emergency health issues is another factor to consider in plans for security and emergency reponse. If a visiting guest becomes seriously ill while staying in the residence halls, the housing office should have procedures in place to ensure that emergency response teams such as ambulance and fire personnel can get through road blocks and security. This would require advance communication with local hospitals, university police, and state and federal security personnel. Next-of-kin information should be collected at check-in so that during the emergency security officials are not scrambling to gather the information. Some housing offices that utilize Personal Data cards (PD Cards) to gather this information when a student first checks in to the halls also use them for temporary guests. This not only expedites notification but can protect the university from liability. Volunteers (who are mostly students) from housing and food services should have police background checks and be provided with credentials easily displayed on their nametags and recognizable to security staff. Takimoto explains that during each visit from a dignitary, campus events groups consisting of university police representatives, dean of students staff, government relations, public affairs, etc. are formed. These groups coordinate logistics with the Secret Service. With so many details to coordinate, hosting a political convention or candidate can be immensely stressful. However, housing and food services can be a part of history in a remarkable and memorable way. ts Janis J. Haney is the assistant director for contracts and client relations at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. The Difference One Vote Can Make At the University of Northern Iowa, according to Lyn Redington, the associate director of residence, staff attach the following information to some of their publicity about voting: In 1960, JFK won (and Richard Nixon lost) the presidential election by a margin of less than one vote per precinct nationwide. In 1923, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi party. In 1876, one vote in the electoral college gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency. In 1875, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic. In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German. In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England. A main component of many schools’ political involvement campaigns is registering students to vote. 3 Talking Stick

Talking Stick - July/August 2008

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