UF Smathers Library and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service is partnering with former Senator Bill Nelson to host a discussion on bipartisanship.
Nelson will gather with Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in the Grand Reading Room on the second floor of Smathers Library today at 2:30 p.m., where they will speak for about an hour, said Misty Colson, library administration executive assistant.
More than 200 people are expected to attend. Due to limited space and high interest, it will also be streamed online, Colson said.
Smathers Library has never hosted an event like this before.
Nelson deposited a collection of papers and other historical materials to the George A. Smathers Libraries after stepping down as senator that established the Bill Nelson Initiative on Ethics and Leadership at UF, said Judith Russell, Dean of University Libraries.
This initiative will include an ongoing series of speakers and seminars, classes for UF undergraduate and graduate students and a fellowship program for UF graduate students interested in more in-depth examination on ethics and leadership, Russell said.
This first event was planned largely around the schedule of Senator Rubio and the U.S. Senate.
Because the Senate is in congressional recess from Monday to Friday for Independence Day, it was a convenient time for Rubio to come to UF, Russell said.
“Nelson wanted this first one to be clearly bipartisan and to be reflective of the way that he and Senator Rubio have worked together for many years for the good of the country but particularly for the good of the citizens of Florida,” Russell said.
Adreanne Martinez, 20-year-old UF history and political science senior, attends many of the Bob Graham Center events on campus because it ties into her field of interest, she said. She is excited to hear from both political figures.
“I am very excited for this event because Rubio and Nelson will discuss their thoughts on bipartisan cooperation in the U.S. Senate,” she said. “I think this is important because our country has become increasingly hyper-partisan over the past few years, especially in legislative politics.”
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., addresses supporters after winning a second term in the U.S. Senate on Nov. 8, 2016 in Miami. Rubio defeated U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, a two-term congressman.
