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No debates or candidate visits planned at VSU

George Copeland, Jr. | 8/8/2024, 6 p.m.
Virginia State University has no plans to host election-related events after a scheduled presidential debate was canceled months ago.
Multipurpose building at Virginia State University

Virginia State University has no plans to host election-related events after a scheduled presidential debate was canceled months ago.

The local HBCU resurfaced in election discussions in July during a press call between U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and local media outlets. Warner suggested involving VSU to build on the excitement around Kamala Harris’ candidacy and as consolation for a missed historic opportunity.

“We still owe Virginia State a visit by the vice president or a debate venue, or at least a vice presidential debate,” Warner said. “I’m going to make sure we stay on the campaign and make sure we either get a visit or a debate.”

VSU was originally set to host a debate between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump in its Multi-Purpose Center. The event was canceled in favor of televised debates operated and moderated by CNN.

Had the debate proceeded, VSU would have been the first HBCU to host a presidential debate for the general election in the United States.

However, VSU officials say the school is not considering further involvement in the election. Gwen Williams Dandridge, assistant vice president for communications at VSU, said she has heard no discussions about hosting candidate visits in the coming months, and additional debates are not planned.

“Currently, aside from the canceled debate that was originally scheduled for Oct. 1, 2024, by the Commission on Presidential Debates, there are no additional debate plans at VSU,” Dandridge wrote in an email.