Working at the Athletic Complex last week was somewhat magical for Jo Simpson.
"It was like working on a movie set," said Simpson, administrative assistant to John M. Schael, athletics director. "You looked out the window and the whole front yard was transformed into a beautiful work of art. The Athletic Complex was a different place for a week."
Not that Simpson had much time to look out the window. She was too busy taking calls from the White House, the Bush and Clinton campaign staffs, as well as network and CNN representatives who wanted to ship equipment from their home offices to the debate site.
Besides all the calls, Simpson also had to play graceful host for the hundreds of reporters covering the debate. "All of the media people were really friendly and nice. They were impressed with the beauty of the campus. I tried to say to them, 'We're happy to have you here.'"
The week preceding the debate was a hectic time for other staff members around campus, as well. The impact and challenge of preparing for the historical event was felt throughout the campus, from department secretaries and telephone operators who answered hundreds of debate calls per day, to maintenance employees and contractors who worked around the clock to spruce up the University's buildings and grounds for all the important visitors.
In the Marriott food services offices on campus, the phones rang constantly, said secretary Cheryl Wilmoth. "It was like all of a sudden, people decided they needed to eat. Everybody called about food." She said many of the calls were from individuals planning department activities based on the debate.
During debate weekend, Marriott catered the Anheuser-Busch hospitality tent that was set up for the media. The tent was located in the parking lot on the north side of the Athletic Complex. Anheuser-Busch also hired Marriott to cater breakfast, lunch and dinner at the complex for the television networks.
As manager of maintenance operations, William Wiley's usually fast-paced schedule accelerated on Friday, Oct. 2, when he learned that Washington was one of several locations being considered for the debate and that the Commission on Presidential Debates might inspect the University's facilities. He immediately advised the heads of Clean-Tech Co. and Top Care Lawn Service Inc., Washington's janitorial and grounds contractors, respectively, that their services might be needed immediately. He later learned the commission would inspect the campus at noon on Sunday, Oct. 4. The pressure intensified.
"The thinking was that we had to get through the commission's inspection," Wiley said. "The commission wanted to see a clean, tidy campus." His problems were compounded by the fact that Homecoming weekend began Friday, Oct. 2. On Saturday, Oct. 3, students enjoyed a parade, tailgate party, football game and a dance.
"Top Care brought in all sorts of people and spiffed up the campus," said Wiley. The commission arrived on campus at 11:30 a.m. instead of noon. By 5 p.m., Wiley learned the commission had selected Washington for the debate site.
Early on in the debate preparation, "one of the things we did was make a decision to contract out a lot that had to be done," said Wiley. "We could not forget that a campus was still functioning here."
Of course, the Department of Facilities Planning and Management, which includes maintenance, did its share of preparation.
A team of crafters worked long hours to make sure all the numerous electrical outlets were available for the 1,000 visiting reporters to use their computers, fax machines and other equipment in the recreational gym, which served as the press center.
Perhaps the week preceding the debate was summed up best by Wendy Clark, a telephone operator. "It was wild!" she said.