UK Student Organizations Announce Statewide Media Partnership to Produce Proposed Senatorial Debate

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 1, 2014) — Four University of Kentucky student organizations announced a statewide media partnership with Lexington, Kentucky, television station WKYT-TV and seven of their sister stations in efforts to host a debate with Kentucky’s candidates for U.S. Senate. The partnership will allow a debate hosted in the heart of the Commonwealth to air in nearly 100 percent of the state via eight TV regional stations.

The partnership complements a joint proposal submitted by Student Activities Board and UK Student Government to host a student-produced debate in September that would be hosted by the Federalist Society, the American Constitution Society, SAB and SGA. Proposals were submitted to incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell and Kentucky’s current Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes May 9.

"The UK College of Law American Constitution Society Student Chapter would be honored to co-sponsor a debate between Senator McConnell and Secretary Grimes," Chris K. Stewart, ACS co-president, said. "Facilitating this important conversation only furthers our mission to promote the vitality of our nation's Constitution and the fundamental values it expresses. As Kentucky's flagship university, UK is the ideal setting for one of the biggest moments of this critically important Senate race."

"A college campus is an incubator for informed discourse on countless topics," UK President Eli Capilouto said. "We are a place where the free exchange of ideas should flourish. A shared dialogue where students, faculty and staff can discuss the questions of our day. I am proud of what these UK student leaders are doing to foster this quality learning environment, and I'm proud to support them in their endeavor to bring a senatorial debate to the UK campus."

The event, which would be held at the University of Kentucky, would educate Kentuckians on contemporary issues and each candidate’s platform while engaging young people in the election, which has earned considerable national attention.

“We are eager to hear Sen. McConnell and Secretary Grimes engage in an informative and constructive dialogue at the University of Kentucky,” said Jacob Ewing, SAB president. “Our university is representative of all 120 counties in our Commonwealth, and our partnership with WKYT will bring this debate to an even more diverse population of Kentuckians.”

In addition to WKYT-TV, the following stations would air the debate: WLKY-TV in Louisville; WLWT-TV in northern Kentucky; WYMT-TV in Hazard; WSAZ-TV in Charleston-Huntington, West Virginia, covering eastern and northeastern Kentucky, including the city of Ashland; WBKO-TV in Bowling Green; WPSD-TV in Paducah; and WFIE-TV in Evansville, Indiana, covering midwestern Kentucky, including the city of Owensboro.

"We’re pleased that television stations throughout the state are banding together to offer to air what we believe would be a debate of enormous importance to all citizens of the Commonwealth," Chris Mossman, general manager of WKYT, said. "We have eastern Kentucky covered with WYMT and WSAZ. Hearst’s WLWT, based in Cincinnati, is a market leader in northern Kentucky. CBS affiliates WLKY and WKYT are the most viewed stations in Louisville and Lexington respectively. Western Kentucky will be well served with WPSD in Paducah, WFIE in Evansville and Bowling Green’s WBKO ready to provide coverage."

The event would follow the Lincoln-Douglas debate style and would be held in UK’s Singletary Center for the Arts.

“We are excited for the possibility of hosting such an important civic engagement opportunity on campus,” said Jake Ingram, SGA president. “It is my hope that the candidates recognize what a unique opportunity it is for them to engage young voters from across the Commonwealth here at Kentucky's flagship, land-grant university."

"The Federalist Society is committed to fostering debate among competing legal philosophies in universities and the legal profession," Aubrey Vaughan, president of UK College of Law's Federalist Society, said. "Hosting Sen. McConnell and Secretary Grimes, both attorneys themselves, would highlight two contrasting legal views of how the government should best function to uphold the Constitution. This debate would be of great interest to all Kentuckians."

The official hashtag of the debate efforts at the University of Kentucky is #UKYSenDebate.

ABOUT THE UK COLLEGE OF LAW FEDERALIST SOCIETY

The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order. It is founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. The Society seeks both to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities.

ABOUT THE UK COLLEGE OF LAW AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY

The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy promotes the vitality of the U.S. Constitution and the fundamental values it expresses: individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, access to justice, democracy and the rule of law. These abiding principles are reflected in the vision of the Constitution’s framers and the wisdom of forward-looking leaders who have shaped our law throughout American history. As a result of their efforts, the Constitution has retained its authority and relevance for each new generation.

ABOUT THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD AND STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

The Student Activities Board and Student Government Association are two of the university’s largest student organizations. Both organizations are committed to enriching students’ lives through advocacy, education and enriching experiences. SAB regularly produces large-scale events, including recent lectures from journalist Anderson Cooper and environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

SAB brings more than 100 entertaining, educational and enriching programs that are reflective of contemporary issues and trends to the University of Kentucky annually. These programs are designed to enhance the college experience for students, faculty, staff and the greater Lexington community.

Connect with SAB at www.uksab.org, follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/UKSAB or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UKSAB. For more information about SAB and events, email contact@uksab.org.

SGA is the official student government of the University of Kentucky and represents all undergraduate, graduate and professional students. SGA serves to increase student influence over academic policy; provide necessary student services; to protect and expand student substantive and procedural rights; and better represent the student body in relations with the faculty, administration, Board of Trustees and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Connect with SGA at www.uksga.org, follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/UKSGA or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ukstudentgovernment. For more information about SGA, email ukstudentgovernment@gmail.com.