Journalists to debate campaign on campus

National political journalists will hold a public debate for the University community tonight at the end of the voter registration drive run by Penn Rocks the Vote, Undergraduate Assembly Chairperson Jeff Lichtman said this week. Tim Russert, the moderator for "Meet the Press," Donald Baer, senior editor of U.S. News and World Report, Alex Castellanos, a Republican media consultant, Steven Holmes, a New York Times reporter and Morton Dean, ABC's Ross Perot correspondent, will answer students' questions and debate each other and student volunteers, at the forum, called "The Inside Scoop," Lichtman said. "[We are] trying to establish a format that is unusual," Lichtman, a College senior, said. "The parameters are the '92 campaign." He said that, in addition to the four journalists who have been confirmed, other media representatives may attend the debate depending on current political events, such as the re-entrance of Ross Perot in the presidential campaign. Lichtman said that Adjunct Assistant American Civilization Professor Frank Luntz, who organized the forum, will act as moderator during the 90-minute debate, which will be co-sponsored by the UA and the Penn Political Union and financed by Connaissance. "[The forum] will be an off-the-record briefing [about] what's really going on," Luntz said last week. "The stories before they hit the press." Connaissance Chairperson Meg O'Leary said that Luntz was able to get the University a good deal on the cost of the speakers. She said they will be paid $4,000 in honoraria and be given a stipend for travel expenses. Connaissance will also pay for the use of the Annenberg Theater. PPU Chairperson Kiera Reilly said last week that the forum fits in well with the political focus of her organization. She said there is normally a lot of student interest about political issues, and even more so during this election year. "[Tonight] is the perfect time for students to talk to the experts who do [analyze the country's political climate] for a living," Reilly, a College senior, said yesterday. "Students have a chance to have a dialogue." "[The forum] is a good lead into the awareness section [of the voting drive, including] awareness of candidates, their positions and voting," Lichtman said. "The Inside Scoop" will be held tonight from 7 p.m. to 8:30 in the Annenberg Theater. "[Students] are going to learn about the [political] process and how the process works, not just what they see on television and read in the newspaper," Luntz said. (CUT LINE) Please see SCOOP, page 5 SCOOP, from page 1