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Wright State Continues To Raise Funds For September Presidential Debate

Wright State University
K. Shimada/Wikimedia Commons

Wright State University is raising money for the September presidential debate.

 

This year's costs are higher than usual, according to the university. The typical price of previous debates ranged from 3 to 5 million dollars. This is Wright State’s first year hosting a presidential debate, and their goal is to raise 8 million dollars.

"In other years the 3 to 5 number was sort of the number that everyone was operating on, however this year is different because of cyber security," said Wright State's Executive Vice President for Planning, Robert Sweeney. "There are a lot more precautions we have to take on the cyber side of this.”

Sweeney says they hope to come in under budget. Their fundraising plan includes charging media for space and other resources, reaching out to corporate sponsors, finding private donations, and seeking support from the state government.

 

Wright State has been financially struggling recently due in part due to state budget cuts and tuition freezes. However, Sweeney says money for the debate is not coming out of the school’s general operating expenses.

“We are going to raise the money," said Sweeney. "This is an event that’s important to the region, it’s important to the state, it’s important to Wright State. We will raise the money.”

The university aims to have all debate funds in hand by December of this year.  

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