Events & Activities
Excitement and energy are building toward the Oct. 4 debate with a full slate of activities for students, faculty and staff, alumni and friends, and the surrounding community. This page can be your guide to participating in the rich opportunities ahead of the debate.
All events, times and locations are subject to change. Please check back for up-to-date information.
Debate Week
25
Friends of Greenwood Library Special Author Presentation with Joel K. Goldstein
7 p.m., Wygal Auditorium Admission: Free, open to the public
Goldstein, a law professor at Saint Louis University, is a renowned scholar of the U.S. Vice Presidency, and author of The White House Vice Presidency: The Path to Significance, Mondale to Biden.
8
University Convocation with speaker Jim Lehrer
4 p.m., Wheeler Mall Admission: Free, open to the public
Lehrer, the iconic journalist and longtime host of PBS NewsHour, has moderated 12 national debates. The evening of Convocation, Lehrer will also lead a conversation with Longwood’s freshman class, which is reading Lehrer’s memoir of hosting the debates Tension City as its First-Year Reading Experience assignment over the summer (evening event is for Longwood first-year students only).
9
Citizens & Leaders: A Century of Iconic Presidential Campaign Photography by the Associated Press world premiere and reception
5 p.m., Longwood Center for the Visual Arts Admission: Free, open to the public
In a joint project in conjunction with Longwood’s hosting the Vice Presidential Debate, the LCVA and the Associated Press have collaborated to curate a new collection of historic and revealing photographs from presidential campaigns taken over the last century by the respected news cooperative’s legendary roster of photojournalists. Selections in the exhibit are drawn from the elections of 1916-2016. The exhibit will run through Oct. 16 and a conversation with leading photojournalists will take place at noon on debate day (see below).
14
The Candidate screening
7 p.m., Longwood Center for the Visual Arts
Opening evening of Framing Campaigns: Politics through the Hollywood Lens – a fall film series surveying some of Hollywood’s greatest films about political campaigns and elections. Screenings of films ranging from popular comedies to critically acclaimed dramas will run over the course of the semester. A full schedule is available at lcva.longwood.edu/calendar
16
Cyber Security Summit: Advancing Cyber Security: Key Issues for Citizens and the Next Presidential Administration.
3:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m., Jarman Auditorium Admission: Free, open to the public
A panel of America’s leading cyber security thinkers will discuss key issues facing the next president in one of the most important but under-appreciated areas of national security. Panelists include Rhonda Vetere, Chief Technology Officer, Estée Lauder Companies; Rodney Blevins: Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Dominion Resources, Inc.; General (ret.) James Cartwright, United States Marine Corps, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Dr. Val Rahmani, Non Executive Director, Former IBM Cyber Security Executive. Moderated by PBS Newshour Journalist Roben Farzad. Obligations of Citizens Lecture Series (Departments of Economics and Business Administration).
19
-23
Debate Spirit Week
A spirited lineup of student-led events will take place across campus.
19
The Lifetime Reading Plan: Becoming a Citizen of the World
5:30 p.m., Blackwell Hall Admission: Free, open to the public
Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and editor for The Washington Post Book World, discusses the value of studying literature, writing and languages – particularly during an election year. Obligations of Citizens Lecture Series (Department of English and Modern Languages).
21
Mock Presidential Debate
7 p.m., Jarman Hall
College Democrats and College Republicans square off in a preview of the issues likely to take center stage during the October 4th Vice Presidential Debate.
26
The Secret Service Comes to Town
7 p.m., Blackwell Hall
A panel of Secret Service agents will discuss their role in providing security and protection in events such as the Vice-Presidential Debate. Included will be an agent who has provided security in the field to dignitaries such as the President of the United States, an agent who protects the White House and an agent who has worked with the counter-intelligence team. (Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies, Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society, Lambda Alpha Epsilon Criminal Justice Fraternity).
Secret Service reveals inner workings in Sept. 26 forum prior to VP Debate at Longwood 
Longwood.edu
27
Fun With Big Data: From Predicting Elections to Finding Science Genes
7 p.m., Jarman Auditorium
Princeton University Prof. Sam Wang – renowned data scientist, founder of the Princeton Election Consortium, and one of the nation’s most widely followed experts on political polling -- discusses the ins and outs of applying data modeling to national elections. Obligations of Citizens Lecture Series (Department of Math and Computer Science). Sponsored by Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Department of Psychology and HARK.
30-
Oct.
1
2016 Student Citizenship Summit
9:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m., Jarman Auditorium Admission: Free, open to the public
More than 600 secondary school students from around the region will discuss civics education and how the democratic process has brought about meaningful change in American history. Keynote speakers will discuss the role of debates in our democracy, and students will interact with the C-SPAN exhibit bus while on campus. A partnership with Scholastic will provide students with unique insight into the role teenagers play in driving the national conversation. They'll also tour R.R. Moton Museum, now affiliated with Longwood, and site of the 1951 student strike which became part of Brown v. Board of Education and helped launch the modern civil rights movement.
2
Stubbs Mall VP Jubilee Kick-Off Night
6:30 - 10:20 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
2
Student Debate Ticket Selection
7:30 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Seats to watch the debate in person inside Willett Hall will be extremely scarce, but a few lucky students will be selected to receive a ticket from Longwood’s small allotment. Afterward, pop sensation MKTO performs to kick off the VP Jubilee debate festival on Stubbs Mall.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
2
Welcome Concert for Students and Volunteers with MKTO
8 - 10:15 p.m., Stubbs Mall Admission: Free, open to the public
Pop sensation MKTO performs to kick off the Debate Festival on Stubbs Mall.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
3
VP Jubilee
12 noon-7 p.m., Stubbs Mall Admission: Free, open to the public
Longwood students invite visitors to stop by to enjoy a steady stream of assorted debate-related booths, activities and musical acts – the hub of campus activity, just steps away from the debate venue in Willett Hall.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
3
En-light(e)ning Talks
1-4 p.m., Lancaster Mall (south side of Lancaster) Admission: Free, open to the public
Longwood faculty offer a series of quick, fascinating and non-partisan TED-like talks on topics from their fields of expertise related to the Vice Presidential debate and election campaign.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
3
Musical Performance by Javier Colon, winner of “The Voice”
1–2:30 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
3
Minute to Win It
2:30–3 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
3
Mini-Debates
3–3:30 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
3
Taste of Virginia Media Picnic
4:30-7 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Welcome for members of the media and credentialed visitors, as well as Longwood faculty, staff and students. Music by the Church Sisters.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
3
Second City - Improv All Stars
8 p.m., Stubbs Mall
The celebrated improv comedy troupe -- which launched the careers of Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and many more – performs live.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
Debate Day
4
Civil Rights Walking Tour
10 a.m., R.R. Moton Museum Admission: Free, open to the public
Explore the rich civil rights history of Farmville and Prince Edward County on a newly developed guided walking tour. The tour, facilitated by Longwood Prof. Larissa Smith Fergeson, departs from the Moton Museum on the south end of Longwood’s campus.
4
First Amendment Field
10 a.m., 800 Griffin Boulevard, Farmville, VA 23901 (Adjacent to R.R. Moton Museum)
In a celebration of freedom of speech and expression, Longwood is providing a space for speakers from all walks of life to make their views heard. Participants will sign up for 10-minute speaking slots on the stage on First Amendment Field.
4
VP Jubilee
12 noon-7 p.m., Stubbs Mall Admission: Free, open to the public
Longwood students invite visitors to stop by to enjoy a steady stream of assorted debate-related booths, activities and musical acts – the hub of campus activity, just steps away from the debate venue in Willett Hall.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
4
Citizens and Leaders – a Conversation on the Art of Presidential Campaign Photojournalism
12 noon, Longwood Center for the Visual Arts Admission: Free, open to the public
A one-of-a-kind public conversation with highly accomplished photojournalists about the art of capturing democracy at work in the contest for the quadrennial contest for the most powerful office on earth. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Citizens & Leaders: A Century of Iconic Presidential Campaign Photography by the Associated Press. Featuring Santiago Lyon, vice president and director of photography for The Associated Press, and Michael Mergen, Longwood assistant professor of photography and veteran campaign photographer.
4
20 Ride, Zac Brown Cover Band
1–2:30 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
4
En-light(e)ning Talks
1-4 p.m., Lancaster Mall (south side of Lancaster) Admission: Free, open to the public
Longwood faculty offer a series of quick, fascinating and non-partisan TED-like talks on topics from their fields of expertise related to the Vice Presidential debate and the 2016 election campaign.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
4
Jazz Combo Performance
3–3:45 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
4
The Increasing Power of the Vice Presidency – A View From The Inner Circle
4 p.m., Martinelli Room, Maugans Alumni Center Admission: Free, open to the public
Longwood and the University of Virginia’s Miller Center present an inside look at the office of the vice president and its emergence as a center of power in recent administrations. Panelists: Roy Neel, former chief of staff to Vice President Al Gore; Eric Edelman, former assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Finland, and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy; Jared Bernstein, former chief economist and economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden; and Barbara Perry, Director of Presidential Studies at the Miller Center. Journalist John Harris, of Politico, will moderate.
4
Trivia Contest
4:30–6 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
4
Patriotic Music
4:30–7 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
4
Media Wall
7–9 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Live coverage of pre-debate activities.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
4
Alumni Watch Parties
9 p.m., regional locations
Watch Party Kits are being distributed to over 130 alumni volunteers and their families to host watch party events in their homes around Virginia and the world on the night of the debate.
4
Campus Debate Watch Party
9 p.m., Stubbs Mall
Longwood students, faculty, staff and friends will join together on Stubbs Mall for an outdoor viewing of the debate broadcast. Students will receive a commemorative Longwood debate scarf! Limited souvenir debate blankets available!
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
4
Post-Debate Breakfast & Music
10:30 - 11:15 p.m., Stubbs Mall
As the debate winds down and Spin Alley revs to life, a late-night breakfast will be served while live music plays on the Stubbs Mall stage.
Click here for information on entrances/exits, what to bring and more.
*All events, times and locations are subject to a change.
