Several student planning committees, made up of five to 12 students, are continuing to form around campus to help organize activities related to the 2012 Presidential Debate.

The student committees are already working on projects, such as the development of a passport system, which will be available by spring quarter at the earliest. This will allow students to track which events they attend and provide them with a souvenir to commemorate the debate.

There are seven committees in total so far: public relations, organization of volunteers, organization of student groups, internationalization for students abroad, interest groups and advocacy, community outreach and day-of-event planning.

These committees, which are organized by USG, will be the primary student force behind organizing and promoting debate-related events in the spring and fall quarters.

The application deadline for two of the committees-the community outreach and dayof-event planning committees-passed last Sunday.

These committees were the only ones to use an application process to select their members, though day-of-event planning was split into two subcommittees as well: student viewing and the student after-party. According to junior Parker Calbert, who is overseeing the student committees, they have yet to decide on who will specifically make up the committees.

The other five committees are currently using word-of-mouth to recruit, depending on the chair of the particular committee.

“We haven’t done a big media push yet because we’re still on the ground floor,” said Calbert. “We want to have a strong foundation before we start using our DU resources and social media to get the word out.”

Calbert, who also helped organize the TEDxDU talks last year, is working with USG president Sam Gerk to form the additional five committees. Carl Johnson, director of Campus Activities, said he originally approached the two about the project in January, having worked with each of them in the past. Johnson is in charge of the faculty and staff committees, which are working closely with the student committees to organize debate events.

The committees are also working with Marty Slutsky, the executive producer of the Commission for Presidential Debates, who will be on campus about once a month leading up to the debate.

“For the student committees, we’re looking for excited, enthusiastic students who are committed to the team vision like Sam and I are, and want to make this event one that will be recognized in DU history for years to come,” said Calbert.

According to Calbert, most of the committee members will have internship status because a significant commitment will be necessary. Calbert said there is no set level of hours required, but rather there will be a range depending on committee members’ availability.

She said the primary benefit of this will simply be the experience and knowing what is going on throughout the process.

Although there will only be 5-12 students on each planning committee, Calbert said there will be no end of opportunities for DU students to get involved.

“This is about DU as a community, and showcasing everything it has to offer,” said Calbert. “We really want to make sure this is something that all students on campus will want to get involved in, not just the political ones.”

Slutsky said that he warned Calbert and Gerk that even though the debate will be held on campus, it is not about DU students.

Rather, he said, it is about the millions of American viewers at home. This is why the student committees are working to develop events unique to DU and make the debate more accessible to students who will not get tickets.

“We’re developing an outstanding viewing center, and for the average student, that will actually be a more fun place to be,” said Calbert.

Calbert said committees and programs are still being developed, and come spring quarter they will have a better idea of what things are going to look like and how students can get involved.

Students with questions or who want to get involved can contact Calbert and Gerk at dupresdebate2012@gmail.com.