“These were the estimates to almost build a fortress,” said Hopkins. “We are a public university; we can’t do that. I am not going to build a fortress around the campus for this educational experience. It just didn’t make sense.”
He said he was sad, but not embarrassed, by the decision to withdraw 10 weeks before the debate, which was to be held at the Nutter Center.
“I think we’ve done the right thing,” Hopkins said.
The September debate is the first of four General Election debates that will be produced by the Commission on Presidential Debates. With Wright State out, the commission shifted the first presidential matchup to Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. The private university hosted 2008 and 2012 debates and was designated as the alternate.
>> THE FULL STORY: Costs, security concerns play into WSU's decision