SAN MARCOS, TX – As the spring semester is wrapping up for students and staff at Texas State University, most are looking ahead to see what lies ahead for them in the Fall, and many have their eyes on one particular event.
In 1924, exactly a century ago, a man named Lyndon B. Johnson graduated high school and sought after a higher education. He attended a university known as Southwest Texas State Teachers College, where he would earn both his Bachelor of Science degree and teaching certificate in 1930.
Of course, Southwest Texas State Teachers College is what we now know was Texas State University, and the student, Lyndon B. Johnson, became the 36th President of the United States. To this day, Texas State is the only university in Texas to have graduated a U.S. President.
It’s now come full circle for Texas State: The only Texas university to graduate a U.S. President will now become the first to host a U.S. presidential debate nearly a century later. The debate will be held on September 16th, just about a month after the start of the Fall semester, and students have had some time to start thinking about what exactly the event means for them. Those with political science and journalism aspirations have begun to think about what this event might mean for them personally.
But why was Texas State chosen to host this event? Why not the University of Texas, or Texas A&M, both of which are the most widely recognized across the state? Johnathan Knoll, a geography major at Texas State, says there may be a reason for this. “A possible reason as to why Texas State was chosen for the presidential debate was that Texas State is not as politically affiliated in one direction or another as opposed to other universities”, said Knoll. The University of Texas is well known to be quite liberal, while Texas A&M is known to be quite conservative. Texas State was possibly chosen as it may be politically considered a good middle point. Previously, counties in which presidential debates were held at universities have tended to vote in favor of the democratic party.
While those with political or debate aspirations have drawn special interest to this event, journalists in and around Texas State may also be provided with once in a lifetime opportunities. Dr. Beth Wuest is the Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and will be overseeing the debate at Texas State, and she commented to SJMC that they might have this opportunity themselves. “We are trying to get you opportunities during the debate to work with some of the networks and media that come in” said Wuest. Being able to be a part of any sort of coverage at an event as big as the presidential debate would be a dream come true for many aspiring journalists out there, but few will have that opportunity like Texas State’s very own.
Texas State has always been known for its nature and history. Old Main, the longest standing building at Texas State, was constructed in the Fall of 1903. “What we’re trying to do is when the media starts asking for spaces on campus to do some sort of adlib recordings, we are hoping that yes, they will highlight Old Main and make that front and center”, said Wuest. Journalists at Texas State attend classes in Old Main, and many walk to and from Alkek Library where they come across the statue of Lyndon B. Johnson. Going further past Alkek, they come to what is known as LBJ, the building named after Texas State’s former student and U.S. President. These journalists, surrounded by generational history, now have the chance to be a part of history like never before for their own generation.
Texas State started out with 303 students when it was first founded in 1903. By the time Lyndon B. Johnson graduated in 1930, it was still just a teacher’s college. Today, the University has nearly 40,000 students enrolled, and looks to make nationwide history once again nearly a century later. Come September, all eyes of the nation will be on what is taking place at Texas State University.
To learn more about the presidential being held at Texas State, visit Presidential Debate 2024: Texas State University (txst.edu).
