A substantial portion of the costs of the first presidential debate at Washington University were covered by the $500,000 pledge made by Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. to the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Washington University students, faculty, and staff made substantial in-kind contributions of their time and energy to help with the many operational requirements of staging the debate, said John Berg, associate vice chancellor for finance.
Some departments decided to speed up certain planned and budgeted expenditures as a result of debate-related activity. For instance, the Facilities Department determined that the planned installation of underground piping for a water sprinkler system near the Athletic Complex should be installed while excavation equipment (related to the debate preparation) was on site and digging trenches. In addition, the air conditioning system in the Field House was insulated to improve the acoustics for the debate and for future events.
Any additional costs not covered by the Commission on Presidential Debates and in-kind contributions from Washington University and St. Louis corporations were covered by an anonymous contribution to the University, restricted for that purpose, Berg said. Funds for the University's academic and support programs are not being used to fund debate expenditures.