QUAYLE EVENT TONIGHT

Event organizers say ticket sales are on track for former Vice President Dan Quayle's speech despite only 200 tickets being sold for the event so far.

Nathan Cooper, an organizer of tonight's event, said sales figures are similar to last year's Oliver North appearance. Several hundred people heard the retired Marine colonel and Iran-Contra figure speak. He said many of the tickets for that event were sold the day of the speech.

"We expect the same thing for this," Cooper said Sunday night while he and other members of the College Republicans prepared banners and posters welcoming the former vice president. "We feel like we're right on track."

Quayle will speak at the Show Me Center at 7:30 p.m.

Mario McDermott, a freshman and member of the College Republicans, said many students would be attending the speech because some of their professors required them to do so. He said his speech professor strongly suggested his classmates attend the speech. And many of the students who will attend the event won't get tickets until today, he said.

Cooper said he wasn't worried about ticket sales because event organizers hadn't planned to recoup much of the $20,000 cost to bring Quayle to Cape Girardeau.

He said the College Republicans wanted to bring Quayle to campus in a "continuing effort to bring good, conservative speakers to Southeast."

Quayle also had added appeal as a speaker because of his potential as a presidential candidate.

"He might have been a front-runner this year if he ran," Cooper said, "and he probably will one day be president."

The event is sponsored and presented by the Young America's Foundation, Student Activities Council, Student Government, provost's office, College Republicans and Conservative Club.

Show Me Center crews were busy preparing for Quayle's speech Sunday afternoon. Seating for about 2,000 people was arranged for the event.

In addition to the speech, Quayle will have a public signing of his book, "Standing Firm," at the Show Me Center before his speech. He also will participate in a reception and a private dinner following his speech.

For information about the reception, contact Cooper at (573) 339-3816.

Tickets for the event can be obtained from the Show Me Center box office and can be reserved by calling (573) 651-5000.