No 2012 Presidential Debates For Bay Area

Two Bay Area universities were informed today they will not be  hosting one of the four 2012 presidential debates next October, the  Commission of Presidential Debates announced.
    Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga and Dominican  University of California in San Rafael were among 12 applicants that were  under consideration to host a presidential debate for the 2012 general  election.
    The three presidential debates will be held at the University of  Colorado in Denver on Oct. 3, Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. on Oct.  16, and Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. on Oct. 22. A vice presidential  debate will be held on Oct. 11 at Centre College in Danville, Ky.
    Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. was selected as an  alternate location.
    The CPD selected Dominican University to lead an international  project focused on stimulating international student involvement in civic  engagement.
    The university has been active in student engagement in recent  years with its "Vote Smart Challenge", getting students to vote based on  issues rather than party affiliation, university spokeswoman Sarah Gardner  said.
    Saint Mary's was hoping to host the event as part of the  university's 150th anniversary.
    The college -- which hosted a 2010 senatorial debate between Sen.  Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina -- offers seminar-style courses, allowing  students to have "shared inquiries on current and historic issues," school  spokesman Michael McAlpin said.
    "Having a presidential debate was in line and keeping with the  Saint Mary's way," he said.