Rose is the executive editor and anchor of Public Broadcasting Service program "Charlie Rose," which features interviews with world leaders, entertainers, athletes and thinkers, according to his website. Reporters from The Washington Post and Bloomberg News, which are co-sponsoring the debate, will assist Rose in questioning the candidates during the debate.
Rose was "front and center fairly early on" as a candidate for moderator, according to Shaiko. The decision-making process involved the College, The Washington Post and Bloomberg News, he said.
"[Rose] is a straight shooter," Shaiko said. "I think he's a good interviewer and he is viewed as a non-partisan observer who asks tough questions."
Justin Anderson, director of media relations for the College, met with representatives of Bloomberg News and WBIN-TV, which is also sponsoring the debate, to discuss possible venues for the debate on Wednesday, Anderson said. The team surveyed potential locations in an effort to find a site that could accommodate both the audience and seven to 10 large cameras, according to Anderson. While Spaulding Auditorium was the favored choice, although no final decisions have been made, he said
"In 2007 it was Spaulding," Anderson said. "We went to Spaulding and Moore, which was lovely but too small, so Spaulding will probably be the location."
To accommodate the cameras, chairs will be removed or a platform will be built, according to Anderson.
The WBIN-TV representatives were primarily concerned with the setting's appeal from a broadcast perspective, Anderson said.
"It was sort of a look-see with the mind-set, What can we do to make this a great set and great broadcast and great debate?'" he said.
Anderson and the sponsors' representatives will continue to talk weekly, and the Bloomberg representatives will repeat their visit several times over the next few months, Anderson said.
"We have six months [until the debate], which seems like a long time, but in terms of pulling off an event of this import, there's a lot of work to do," Anderson said. "We're all very much agreed that this is a collaborative effort."
The cost of the debate which Shaiko said he could not estimate at this time will be divided between the Rockefeller Center and the Office for Public Affairs, Office of Events and Office of the President, according to Shaiko.
"Although this event is labor-intensive for faculty, staff and administration, from the students' perspective this is a great investment of time and resources," Shaiko said. "We have to capitalize on this as a college, as very few campuses can do this."
Although it was not part of the original plan, both the Bloomberg and the WIBN representatives expressed their desire to incorporate the Green into the broadcast of the debate after they visited the College. The television preview in which a reporter introduces the debate will probably be staged on the Green, although Collis porch and the Top of the Hop are also viable options, Anderson said.
Making the debate accessible to the student body is one of Anderson's primary concerns, he said.
Shaiko will organize a focus group of students from all political parties and class years who will lead a "town meeting" during which the students will discuss political issues, he said. Candidates will also have the opportunity to meet with students and visit classes, where they will discuss issues such as public policy, according to Shaiko.
"Our wish list is long," Shaiko said. "For example, I would love to have someone from Comedy Central come up and do an event."
Over 700 volunteers were involved in the 2007 debate, and all students on campus will have the opportunity to experience the event whether or not they volunteer, Shaiko said.
The October debate, unlike the 2007 Democratic debate, is not sanctioned by the Republican National Committee, according to Shaiko. Candidates have not yet agreed to participate in the event.
"New Hampshire shouldn't matter in the larger scheme of things, but given the structure of the primary process we are disproportionately important," Shaiko said. "Candidates have to come here. They ignore us at their peril."
The College's Office of Public Affairs and the networks sponsoring the event are spearheading the effort to secure the participation of the candidates.
In anticipation of the debate, students should familiarize and engage themselves with the major political issues the candidates will be facing, Shaiko said.
"If you're an undeclared voter, think about what kinds of characteristics and views on policy you are most interested in hearing about," Shaiko said.
Anderson said he will work with the Rockefeller Center to develop events for students before and after the debate.
"We're going to try to make this as student focused as possible," he said. "By that I mean we're going to have a lot of events around the debate that will allow students to interact with the candidates and really participate in the experience."
Logistical preparations for the event will be easier because the College has experience hosting past primary debates, according to Shaiko.
"Given that we have hosted multiple debates, we are clear on how security works and how we will control the flow of traffic," Shaiko said. "We're using the [preparation] timeline that we laid out for the last debate."
Shaiko described the 2007 Democratic presidential primary debate as a successful "spectacle."
"Four years ago the campus was overwhelmed by the debate," he said. "It was a grand campus-wide event."
