Wright State University in Ohio has decided not to host the first Presidential debate in September after school officials determined the cost of security is too high.
Fearing terrorism and protests, Wright State University President David Hopkins said that he would have to invest in extra security—a cost that is increasing in the wake of shootings in Orlando and unrest nationwide.
According to Hopkins, Wright State would need more than $8 million in additional funds to meet security demands, and their donors simply don’t see the value. Wright doesn’t have the funds in reserve, either. A sharp increase in campus spending drained the college’s savings account, leaving only $40 million in funds. They’re cutting spending and raising tuition on students who come to the school from outside Ohio.
The school has already invested half-a-million dollars in the event, which they won’t get back. But President Hopkins says the national tone has worsened so much since they agreed to the debate, that he simply can’t afford it. “We were fully aware of the challenges and were prepared to meet them when we decided to host the debate, but things have changed,” Hopkins told a local newspaper. “The current national environment has made security even more critical.”
The debate will, instead, be held at Hofstra University.
