NASHVILLE, Tenn. ñ Vanderbilt University’s "Meet the Candidates" community picnic on Oct. 7 is expected to be one of the area’s largest and most festive political gatherings prior to the Nov. 3 election.
In keeping with the tradition of old-fashioned politicking, representatives of the presidential candidates and Nashville-area candidates for Congress (5th and 7th districts) and the Tennessee legislature have been invited to stand on a soapbox and introduce themselves at the picnic, which is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Hot dogs, ice cream and soft drinks will be available, and a Dixieland jazz band will perform at the event, which is open to the public.
The candidates’ picnic will be held on Olin Lawn, located on 25th Avenue between Garland and Highland avenues. In the event of rain, the location will be moved to the Hawkins Field Concourse on Jess Neely Drive (Gate 3 baseball entrance).
"As the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt continually strives to enrich the community through educational, intellectual and cultural opportunities," said Michael Schoenfeld, vice chancellor for public affairs. He noted that candidates would have the opportunity to meet not only Vanderbilt faculty and staff but also students interested in the political process. "The presidential election allows for greater civic participation by Vanderbilt students, including those in the nonpartisan student organization ‘Leaders Engaged in Active Democracy,’ which has been conducting a community voter registration drive."
Candidates have been invited from the counties in which Vanderbilt’s approximately 18,000 employees reside, including Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson. They will be able to display or distribute literature and are encouraged to shake as many hands as possible.
Information about the voting process will be available at the picnic, which is sponsored by the Office of Community, Neighborhood and Government Relations in the Division of Public Affairs.
Media contact: Ann Marie Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
Annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu