With only 150 debate tickets allotted for university students and none allotted for faculty, staff and administrators, the university faced the question of how to involve everyone who wanted to learn from this incredible moment in Ole Miss history.

Showcasing the strength of the university’s commitment to education, Ole Miss faculty and staff quickly provided an answer. Nineteen debate-related classes were added to the university’s academic offerings, and even more special events and panels drew national experts from across the nation.

Interim Provost Morris Stocks sought proposals for debate-related events from university departments and was overwhelmed with the response. Once approved by a committee charged with ensuring that events were relevant to the debate, each of the 72 events was booked in an appropriate venue.

“These activities engaged our faculty, staff and students in the presidential debate and the political process in ways that were relevant to their disciplines, areas of expertise and areas of interest,” said Associate Provost Noel Wilkin. “As a result, these academic, debate-related activities made this historic event an educational and engaging experience for our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community.”

Opportunities extended to Oxford’s and Lafayette County’s public schools, which developed curriculum and programs using the debate as a way to teach civic mindedness to their collective 6,000 pupils.

“By developing these special learning opportunities, we hope to create a sense of involvement in our students that goes well beyond the walls of the classroom,” said Oxford Schools Superintendent Jerry Webb.

Drawing on the intense national interest in the first debate, the university hosted panels on economics, global warming, health care, journalism and global business.

Thousands of Ole Miss students, faculty and friends embraced the chance to join a historic journey, a journey that would forever alter their memories and their ties to a university taking its place on the world stage.

It was expected to be a shining moment, but it was so much more than a moment.

The sweat, worry and sheer commitment of the university’s students, faculty and staff reached a fevered pitch September 22 as the long-awaited debate week began.

The parking lot of the Ford Center steadily filled with satellite trucks and television sets. Suddenly, images of Oxford and Ole Miss became routine backdrops for shows such as CBS’s “The Early Show” and MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews.” The world was flooded with images of a progressive university that handled each challenge with true Southern grace and hospitality.

Months of work and effort seemed doomed to fall short midweek, when Republican presidential candidate John McCain announced his desire to postpone the debate. But, at Ole Miss, the show went on.

“Journalists and commentators who say this debate is the byproduct of months of preparation somewhat miss the point,” stated a Daily Mississippian editorial. “This debate is the result of decades of toil on the part of literally thousands of individuals of every race who poured their blood, sweat and tears into this university—individuals who would rather give their lives to this university than abandon it. Because here at Ole Miss, that is what we do.”

That commitment was clear as thousands of students, faculty and community members flocked to events such as the September 25 appearance of longtime NBC broadcaster Tom Brokaw.

By Thursday night, the moment had arrived.

Oxonians and members of the Ole Miss family went to sleep September 25 anticipating a day unequaled in their beloved university’s history. They would not be disappointed.