Priests, Presidents & Parties - Party Heads Faced-off at CUA

In 2004, Chairs of DNC, RNC Were Both Univ. Alum

Against the odds, it happened once, and it is not likely to happen again - the heads of the two biggest parties in the country were both Catholic University Alumni. Terry McAuliffe, B.A. 1979, and Ed Gillespie, B.A. 1983, faced off in a political debate in 2004 in the Edward J. Pryzbyla Center, as they were both chairmen of the Democratic and Republican parties (respectively) at the time of the debate.

Over 800 students, faculty and alumni gathered to watch the well known alumni battle it out in the Pryzbyla Center Great Room. The former politics majors discussed the fundamental issues at stake during the 2004 presidential election between current President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA). The debate was also televised by C-SPAN.

The debate began with informal banter about the closing of The Ratt (former Rathskellar, popular student bar formerly located in Cardinal Hall), as well as which debater graduated with the highest honors.

Gillespie, an Irish American from outside Philly, discovered the University in high school when a teacher noticed his accomplishments in their school paper and suggested he attended a well-known university in DC. During his time at CUA, he served as sports editor for The Tower and played for the rugby team as well as intramural basketball.

McAuliffe had been involved with the Democratic party from a young age, since his father was the treasurer for the Onondaga County Democratic Party. He was a resident advisor and vice president of the Judicial Branch of the student government while he attended the University.

The debate concluded with both debaters asking students to vote in what would be one of the most important campaigns in American history.

Related posts:

1. Party Chairs Agree: Young People Will Be Essential to 2004 Election College students and recent college graduates will play an essential...
2. Party Chairs Return to Alma Mater for C-SPAN Debate With the line of audience members sprawling out of the...
3. Legislative Branch Votes to Move Class Presidents The Legislative Branch debated, voted on and approved a constitutional...
4. Those Prone to Molestation Should Not Be Priests in the First Place I read the Newsweek article on Cardinal Bernard Law three...
5. Activities Fee Board Director Meets with Student Org. Heads The Student Fee Allocation Board met with the undergraduate student...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.