Though registered Centre County Republicans received personal invitations yesterday to attend former President George H. W. Bush's speech on Friday, tickets to the event are also available to the public. Tickets for the event can be picked up between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Republican election office, 232 S. Allen St.

Bush will speak at 11 a.m. tomorrow in HUB Alumni Hall to campaign for his son, President George W. Bush, less than a week before the general election.

"Registered Republicans are being contacted by phone and getting a personal invitation," said Charles Gable, the Penn State College Republicans' faculty adviser. Gable said about 1,000 tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis and are free of charge.

College Republicans Chairman Andy Banducci said he is "extraordinarily" happy that former president Bush is coming to campus. "We are basically trying to get everyone that we can out to this event," Banducci said. " ... If I were to receive an invitation to see a former president, that would definitely impress me, and hopefully it will impress the undecided voters as well."

Further details, including the rally's agenda and a list of speakers, will not be released until this afternoon.

"We are still waiting to hear back from a number of dignitaries and VIPs that we have asked to speak," Gable said.

College Democrats President Megan Green said making tickets available to a specific group first is common practice.

"We did a similar thing for the Teresa Heinz Kerry event," Green said. "We gave tickets out to College Democrats and their friends first."

Lucinda Campbell (freshman-marketing) said it is unfair that tickets were made available to Republicans first.

"It should be open to everyone right away," she said. "I'm for Kerry, but I'd go to see what he [Bush] has to say."

Ben Thomas (freshman-liberal arts) said he thinks Penn State will benefit from Bush's visit. "I think it's good that he is coming because it seems like a lot of the campus is liberal," Thomas said.

Green said the College Democrats are in the process of making signs to hold outside the event. "Anything that we do will be outside the event," Green said. "We wouldn't want anyone to interfere with our rally, so we won't do anything to interfere with their rally."

Centre County Democratic chair Bob Shepherd said the Centre County Democrats will not be protesting outside the event. "We have had quite enough Bush in this country, this state and this county," he said. "We have more important things to do."

For tomorrow's event, doors will open at 9 a.m. and will close at 10 a.m., though the event will not begin until 11 a.m.