UNF provides GOP debate info

The CNN Republican presidential primary debate at the University of North Florida does not start until 8 p.m. Thursday, but the university is trying to prepare students as best as it can ahead of time.

“With an estimated 4 million viewers watching the CNN debate and more than 200 other journalists on our campus covering the event, we need to make a few changes on our campus,” UNF announced on its website.

The university said the changes are necessary for a wide variety of reasons, citing obvious security concerns to providing media accommodations.

No more tickets for the event at the Lazzara Performance Hall are available.

UNF officials said the campus should return to normal Friday.

On Thursday, parking in second, third and fourth floors of the Fine Arts Center garage will be closed all day. The closure and other activities associated with the debate will result in scarce premium parking on campus. Those with premium parking permits who typically park in the core of campus are encouraged to use Lot 53 at UNF Hall.

Two extra shuttles will operate directly from Lot 53 to the Carpenter Library stop, and return will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The shuttles will be marked “Express.” An extra south shuttle will be available from 10 p.m. until midnight.

Those with parking permits for the first floor of the Fine Arts Center garage will be available for parking access until 5 p.m. Thursday. Vehicles parked by this time may remain and/or leave throughout the evening, but the area will be closed to standard additional entry at 5 p.m.

The university has stressed that it will take longer to drive around campus, and officials encourage those coming to campus to plan accordingly.

In addition, reporters will be parking in Osprey Fountains, Lot 55, and walking across UNF Drive to get to the core of campus.

The debate itself will take place in the Lazzara Performance Hall. Because presidential candidates will be in this building Thursday, security will be in place.

The Fine Arts Center will have an academic entrance into the lobby on the first floor, near the ticket box office.

Faculty and students will be asked to show their Osprey1 card, and bags are subject to search.

The second-floor balcony of the Boathouse in the Student Union will be used for television live shots. The backroom of the Boathouse will be used for candidates to do one-on-one interviews with the media after the debate.

The Ballroom of the Student Union West will be used by the more than 200 journalists covering the debate.

The food court and the bookstore will remain open, but access to the rest of the Student Union West, Building 58, will be limited. Only those with event credentials will be allowed into the Student Union West on Thursday.

The Campus Bookstore will maintain standard hours this week except on the evening of the CNN Republican presidential debate, when the Bookstore will have extended hours and will remain open until 11 p.m.

UNF will host a viewing party at the Robinson Theater with a live feed from the Lazzara Performance Hall the night of the debate.

The departments of communication, political science and honors, along with Student Government, have been given tickets to distribute to students. Only those with a ticket will be allowed in the Robinson Theater, and no bags will be allowed in the facility.

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