Fagin adds 50 student tickets for PBS show

Kicks 'Big Wigs' out of seats When Interim President Claire Fagin discovered that only 50 students would be able to attend the December 3 campus taping of Firing Line, she said that just wouldn't do. So yesterday she doubled the number of tickets available to students. Now 100 of the 200 available seats in the Annenberg Center's Harold Prince Theatre will be filled by students. "When I read in the DP that only 50 tickets would be available to students, I was surprised," she said. "This was the first time I had heard of it and it wasn't what I had in mind at all. I planned this for students." The two-hour campus taping of the PBS debate show, entitled "Resolved: Political Correctness is a Menace and a Bore," will be broadcast on 300 PBS stations across the country on December 13. University spokesperson Barbara Beck said Sunday that 150 tickets would be reserved for faculty and special guests – leaving only 50 for students. Fagin said the 50 additional tickets now available to students were originally reserved for "Big Wigs" – including the University Board of Trustees' committee on student life and some Pennsylvania state legislature representatives. Most of these, she added, were for people who would not likely accept the invitations in the first place. Director of Student Life Activities and Facilities Fran Walker said earlier this week that the student tickets will be distributed by lottery. Students interested in attending the taping of Firing Line should stop by the Student Life office on the first floor of Houston Hall starting Monday. Walker said she accept names until December 1. On December 2, she added, 100 names will be picked at random and posted in the Student Life office. Tickets can be picked up any time after that. Up to 200 students who do not make the list will be assigned to an "overflow room," where they will be able to watch the taping live on television. Firing Line will be hosted by well-known conservative syndicated columnist William Buckley. Guests on the show include noted relations commentator Cornel West; former Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork; syndicated columnist Michael Kinsley; Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Ira Glasser and several others. Immediately after the taping, Firing Line Producer Warren Steibel said he will tape two half-hour sessions in which a select group of students will ask the panel questions. Chris Dennis, director of academic programs in residence, is in charge of deciding which 14 students will be involved in the two half-hour tapings. He said this week that he has been soliciting nominations from faculty and staff members. "We're looking for people who are thoughtful, but not too dogmatic on the issues," he said. "We want good speakers who present thoughtful ideas." Dennis said he plans to notify the chosen students before or immediately after Thanksgiving Break. He said "there is no guarantee" that the student tapings will be broadcast, but said it is a good possibility that the segments will air on PBS stations later in December.

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