US presidential debate in Samson Pavilion

The presence of South African steel tycoon Eric Samson and his wife Sheila will be strongly felt during the first United States presidential debate between Democratic nominee Joe Biden and United States President Donald Trump next week.

The two political opponents are set to square off for the first time on stage next week at the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion at the Health Education Campus of Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Samson, a South African steel tycoon, built Macsteel group, one of the country’s largest companies. He is said to have donated generously to the university which led to the building of the high tech, ultra-modern Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion. According to reports, the gift makes the Samsons among the largest donors to the Cleveland Clinic where Eric Samson underwent successful heart surgery. Sheila is also a patient.

Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic established a new health education campus in Cleveland, Ohio. The campus opened last year, and features the 477 000-square-foot (44 314m²) Samson Pavilion. According to its website, students from the university’s schools of medicine, nursing, and dental medicine learn, study, and collaborate together on the 11-acre campus.

The presidential debate, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 29 September, will be moderated by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, and will feature 15-minute segments on six topics: the Supreme Court, COVID-19, the economy, race and policing, election integrity, and both candidates’ records.