Three-time Republican presidential nomination hopeful Pat Buchanan and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean will go head to head in Irvine Auditorium on Oct. 19, the Social Planning and Events Committee's Connaissance branch announced Friday.
The event, open to the Penn community and moderated by Annenberg School for Communication Dean Michael Delli Carpini, will center on the issues of the upcoming presidential election.
"This event is all about informing those who are uninformed," Connaissance board member and College senior Mark Guterman said. "Both of these leaders can speak very honestly and openly about the parties and their respective platforms."
Pennsylvania Federation of College Republicans chairman and Wharton senior David Copley expressed surprise, but also excitement, at the prospect of a debate between Buchanan and Dean.
"These are not party politicians," he said. "Pat Buchanan has ticked off the Republican party, and Howard Dean tried to remove [Democratic National Committee] Chairman Terry McAuliffe. They aren't scared to share their opinions, and they are at very opposite edges of the political spectrum. There promises to be fireworks."
President of the Penn College Democrats and College senior Rich Eisenberg said part of the event's value lies in the clout of the two speakers.
"Whenever you have high-profile speakers coming to campus to speak to students, it's a good thing," he said.
When the news of the event reached students, many expressed great enthusiasm. Their reactions were telling of the cynicism that pervades this generation's perception of politics and politicians, but also of their desire to be politically engaged.
"That would be hot," College freshman Herman Dodson said. "With these guys, we're not going to see much concession. They are not running for anything, so they will say what they feel and won't feel constrained by party lines."
Engineering freshman Zach Friess agreed. "Politicians are just trying to get votes. Buchanan and Dean can be genuine and won't resort to rhetoric."
Students' disillusionment with the partisan politics surrounding the election is not just confined to the two presidential candidates.
When asked if he would rather see a debate between the Democratic and Republican national chairmen, Dodson said, "They would say what they are told to say. Neither Buchanan nor Dean are on the presidential candidates' payroll."
Other candidates under consideration included CNN's Crossfire co-host Tucker Carlson.
According to Guterman, Connaissance's goal was to bring both a left- and right-wing politician to campus to discuss election issues in a balanced manner. Both politicians are known for their frankness and outspokenness in espousing their diverse ideological viewpoints.
Buchanan, a senior adviser to three past presidents, founded a number of talk shows, including Crossfire, and is currently the chairman of The American Cause -- a conservative awareness foundation -- and the editor of The American Conservative magazine.
Dean was recently in the limelight during his much-hyped run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. A major focus of his campaign was young voter outreach, and he has recently formed an organization called Democracy for America to promote grassroots political involvement.
