By Laniah Johnson
September 16, 2024, Texas State University will host the Presidential debate at 8 p.m. CT/ 9 p.m. ET. A 90-minute uninterrupted debate will kick off the first debate of four for the general election. Texas State University will be the first Texas university to hold a presidential debate.
The debate will be held at Strahan Arena at the University Events Center which has 10,000 seats and 30 premium court-side seats. The only Texas college to graduate a U.S. president, Lyndon B Johnson.
Texas State welcomes you in with its signature latanas. Photo Credit:Laniah Johnson 
Student center in recognition of the only U.S president to graduate from a Texas college, TXST. Photo Credit:Laniah Johnson 
LBJ honorary plaque gleams under the spring sun. Photo Credit:Laniah Johnson 
Walking up the stairs to one of the oldest and first buildings on the TXST campus. Photo Credit:Laniah Johnson 
LBJ looks over campus while students shake his hand for good luck. Photo Credit:Laniah Johnson 
Fearless bobcats guards over the campus.
Since 1960 Presidential debates have been held, 19 of them being hosted on college campuses. The first college to hold a Presidential debate was in 1976 at the College of Willian &Mary between President Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. The most recent college that held a Presidential debate was Belmont University between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in 2020.
Colleges chosen to host Presidential debates have much in common with each other. Being a host of a debate also has been proven to boost a university profile. It also raises the political atmosphere of the university and inevitably gets the community talking. Hosting a debate also increases public interest. It provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students and faculty to take advantage of.
Dr. Hyun, a faculty expert on the debate empathizes with the effect of the debate, especially since the first debates have the most viewership. As well as that in modern times the average
One thing that will have the biggest impact is the amount of political engagement that will come from this event. Especially since San Marcos is a more liberal city. Here is a look at political affiliations in San Marcos.
Political engagement from all the media attention will engage students and people in the community to participate in politics. Especially since it is planned for this debate to be the first one which always garners the most viewership.
Businesses and the city of San Marcos will also profit economically and socially from this event with the influx of people coming in.
Once you’ve been chosen to host, the college has to plan the event months raise funding, and coordinate media. Colleges have to also make sure that it is fit to hold such a wide scale even with new coverage coming out from all around to cover the debate since it is a national event.
The media coverage will promote our university and most likely increase visibility and admissions.
However, some colleges would prefer not to host presidential debates. Because not only is it a financial commitment but takes much planning and updates to facilitate. It also heavily affects the infrastructure of communities and brings in lots of people and global media coverage as it’s a high-profile event. It’s a task that requires a lot of work that some colleges but not see the benefit of.
Students will have the chance to volunteer or be involved but nothing is for sure. There will be allotted tickets for the university to delegate. Ushering positions for students will be needed as well.
On the day of the event, there will be a perimeter surrounding the event area and security will be heavy. There will be no other effect on the university itself and won’t cause lots of traffic. Aquarena Springs and Charles Austin St. will most likely be blocked off by the area of the event.
As far as security, most of it is handled by the government and not the university itself. There are weekly meetings to discuss security, updates, and renovations that need to be completed prior as well as building scaffolding and platforms for media coverage.
As planning and execution of this debate continue through the summer, we can expect more updates to come Until then people who live in the community or are affiliated with the University have an opportunity to be a part of an important moment in history.
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