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Democratic debate: How it all came together
Noah Cohen
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: News
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Although the seven democratic president candidates were in the spotlight during the Oct. 30 debate on campus, scores of others worked behind the scenes to make the event possible.
Assistant Vice President of Administrative Services Kyle Kephart was one of those behind the scenes coordinating everything from light bulbs to security for the event. Senior Vice President James Tucker designated Kephart as the point person for his department, the division of student life and administrative services.
Kephart said he learned of the debate at Drexel in mid-September and started with a simple question: Where could everything take place?
NBC was set on the Main Auditorium to host the actual debate but needed the University's guidance finding spots for the others events including the Hardball with Chris Matthews and NBC Nightly News broadcasts, Kephart said.
"They had a lot of space considerations," he said.
After working with NBC to pinpoint locations, Kephart worked with Drexel's IRT office to install and test phones, faxes and Internet connections for the reporters and campaigns.
However, there were low-tech considerations as well.
Sodexho needed to feed all the reporters in addition to the student population, tables and chairs needed to be set up, and Drexel's campus needed some touches of fresh paint.
After completing a walk through of the campus, Kephart created an eight page check list of minor repairs needed at the different venues.
While much of the work was energized by the debate, Kephart described his work as "something that needs to be done no matter what."
Kephart, an 11 1/2-year veteran of Drexel, said that although he has worked on other large-scale events, this one took on a different meaning. He described the debate as a "total University event," which spurred a different level of excitement in everyone from vice presidents to union workers.
"Everyone wanted [the debate] to be a success," he said.
Assistant Vice President of Administrative Services Kyle Kephart was one of those behind the scenes coordinating everything from light bulbs to security for the event. Senior Vice President James Tucker designated Kephart as the point person for his department, the division of student life and administrative services.
Kephart said he learned of the debate at Drexel in mid-September and started with a simple question: Where could everything take place?
NBC was set on the Main Auditorium to host the actual debate but needed the University's guidance finding spots for the others events including the Hardball with Chris Matthews and NBC Nightly News broadcasts, Kephart said.
"They had a lot of space considerations," he said.
After working with NBC to pinpoint locations, Kephart worked with Drexel's IRT office to install and test phones, faxes and Internet connections for the reporters and campaigns.
However, there were low-tech considerations as well.
Sodexho needed to feed all the reporters in addition to the student population, tables and chairs needed to be set up, and Drexel's campus needed some touches of fresh paint.
After completing a walk through of the campus, Kephart created an eight page check list of minor repairs needed at the different venues.
While much of the work was energized by the debate, Kephart described his work as "something that needs to be done no matter what."
Kephart, an 11 1/2-year veteran of Drexel, said that although he has worked on other large-scale events, this one took on a different meaning. He described the debate as a "total University event," which spurred a different level of excitement in everyone from vice presidents to union workers.
"Everyone wanted [the debate] to be a success," he said.
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gravel kucinich paul nader
posted 11/10/07 @ 3:31 PM EST
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