To ALL University of Utah students,

Tomorrow only, Tuesday, Sept. 29, all currently enrolled students may enter to win one of the hottest tickets in town; a seat in Kingsbury Hall at the Vice Presidential Debate on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, at 7 p.m.

STUDENTS, check your UMail accounts for the link to apply. The link is ONLY for University of Utah students and was sent directly to university emails. The broader public may not submit an application.

Set alerts on all your devices and complete the form as soon as possible. It opens TUESDAY at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Again, this opportunity is open to all U undergraduate and graduate students.

President Ruth Watkins and the Debate Steering Committee have committed every single ticket allotted to the U be offered to students. President Watkins wants as many students as possible to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event so she will be adding her ticket to the student lottery.

There aren’t many tickets available. We’re talking less than 100 students to represent our campus inside Kingsbury Hall. Due to COVID-19, attendees will be appropriately spaced out—that means fewer seats—and face masks will continue to be a mandatory fashion accessory.

It’s important to know that by entering the lottery, entrants are confirming that they will be in Salt Lake City the day of Oct. 7 and that they intend to attend the event themselves. Tickets are non-transferable. Tickets will only be handed to the lucky winners after having a COVID-19 test performed and a negative result has been confirmed. Winning students will not have to pay for the test.

If for any reason a ticket holder drops out, does not arrive at the appropriate location on time, or tests positive for COVID-19, the ticket will be offered to a randomly selected U student volunteer that has already been tested with a negative result.

The process

The entry form will open at 8 a.m.—TOMORROW—Tuesday, Sept. 29, and close at 5 p.m. that afternoon. All submitted UID’s will be sent to the Office of Assessment, Evaluation & Research. This office has no role in the Vice Presidential Debate which makes it an ideal—impartial—third party. A pool of 300 students’ representative of the University of Utah student body will be randomly selected to enter the final phase of drawings.

Those 300 students will receive a congratulatory email that will include a number assignment ranging from 1 to 300. The number assignments are also random, 1 is no better or worse than 300.

The final drawing will be hosted by President Watkins and Swoop a few days before the debate. Watch for more information through our social media accounts for details.

All finalists will be contacted to confirm the ticket offer and be given further instructions. The University of Utah will not share the names of winning students. Winners may choose to identify themselves as such on social media if they choose to do so. However, that notoriety may come with increased scrutiny and pressures from family, friends, classmates, strangers and the media.

Again, the portal will open on Tuesday at 8 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. that day. Late entries will NOT be considered.

Good luck!

Sincerely,
The Vice Presidential Debate Steering Committee