Question of the Day: What couldn't Belmont do?

We'll be bringing you a question each day from Belmont students and members of the community about different aspects of the debate, and the answer from Belmont. Today's question comes from Salon Stephen owner Stephen Million:



Belmont says there is nothing they weren't able to do, according to Pamela Johnson, Belmont's debate coordinator.

"No, not to my knowledge; I think we've accommodated all we've wanted to do," Johnson said when asked the question.

There is, however, at least one debate-related event that Belmont students were denied the ability to do: shoot video coverage during the day of the debate. Belmont journalism students tell me the Commission on Presidential Debates has said Belmont students will only be able to write about the events and won't be able to shoot video because of incidents involving students at a 2004 debate (I'm still checking into that).

When asked, Johnson said the school had "tried to make a provision to get one or two kids in" the media filing center, but said the event was ultimately about "high-level journalists doing their jobs." Right now, it appears the students will be limited to shooting video outside the campus and filing online reports; I'll let you know if I hear more.