Months of planning and hard work on the part of dozens of university faculty, staff and students culminated in a truly historic campus event on Wednesday, Nov. 9. The Republican Presidential Debate was an unqualified success, but particularly in the sense that it provided once-in-a-lifetime learning experiences for countless students, offered a valuable public service that will likely inspire many to get more involved in the political process, and showcased the tremendous pool of knowledge, talent and ambition within the university community. A total of 3.3 million viewers saw Oakland University shine that evening; literally thousands of news articles, television and radio broadcasts, and new media posts mentioned the university’s name; and roughly 13,000 people visited a debate website showcasing Oakland’s best and brightest. Without question, this landmark event will help accelerate an already rapidly growing level of state and national prominence.
