By Brian Bohl

The University will bid to host a presidential debate again in four years, said Joseph Barkwill, the vice president for facilities and operations. University President Stuart Rabinowitz made the announcement in his remarks before Wednesday night’s debate at the Mack Sports Complex, with Barkwill confirming Hofstra’s intent to reapply.

“Our infrastructure-all the wiring we put in; all the conduit, is in place, so we won’t have to recreate the wheel in 2012,” Barkwill said.

Debate sites are typically moved from region and schools every four years, though Barkwill said there is a historical precedent of a university hosting multiple debates.

Washington University in St. Louis Athletic Complex hosted vice presidential debates in 1992, 1006, 2000 and 2004 and also served as the home for this year’s version, when Joe Biden and Sarah Palin faced off in the most watched vice presidential debate in history.

Barkwill said the infrastructure and layout, which accommodated over 3,000 credentialed media members, was designed to impress the Commission on Presidential Debates, which selected the venues.

“The reason they’ve held four is because they put on a very good show,” Barkwill said about following Washington University’s example. “They focused on the students and and the CPD and I think that’s what we tried to do.

“Hopefully our grade here will be higher enough so that when they think about debates four years from now, they are going to think of Hofstra.”

The Physical Fitness Center was turned into the media workroom and will be quickly broken down. Approximately 500,000 foot of wire was ordered along with 50,0000 square feet of carpet, 1m500 tables and 1,400 phone lines. Some elements, like the makeshift media stage outside the arena, cannot be returned. But Barkwill said most of the other materials were rented.

“Most of what you see: the pipes, drapes, carpet, etc. is rented,” Barkwill said. “The interior platforms and some of the wiring and anything we can save, we will try to save.”