Boston mayoral candidates to face students’ questions at BU
As the final weeks of the Boston mayoral campaign approach, students at Boston University and other local colleges will have an opportunity to learn about the candidates vying for the city’s highest office from the candidates themselves.
Mayor Thomas Menino (Hon.’01) and City Councilor Maura Hennigan will participate in a student issues forum at BU on Wednesday, October 12. The event in Metcalf Hall is open to students with a college ID and to the media. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and the forum will begin at 4:30 p.m. Michael Dukakis, a former governor of Massachusetts and the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, now a professor of political science at Northeastern University, will moderate.
The event was organized by the Boston Intercollegiate Government (BIG), the six-school alliance comprising BU, Bentley College, Boston College, MIT, Northeastern University, and Suffolk University.
“It’s going to be an opportunity for students to ask their questions and see where the candidates stand,” says Jon Marker (CAS’07), BU Student Union president, who is the vice chair of BIG. “We’ve been getting questions from students all over the city for the past two weeks.”
Menino, the incumbent, and Hennigan, a city councilor for 24 years, agreed to meet and answer preselected questions, which were submitted to BIG from students at the six schools. Marker and the other group leaders chose the questions, which will be read by Dukakis. After the forum, students will be able to meet both candidates and register to vote in the November 8 election.
Menino is currently serving his third term as mayor of Boston. Hennigan is an at-large council member.