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Campus Unites to Make WIU "The Road to the White House;" Logo Released

September 7, 2007

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MACOMB, IL - - The 2008 presidential campaigns may be wishing for as much steam right now as is rising on the campus of Western Illinois University, where students and faculty across multiple academic disciplines, organizations, departments and service offices are uniting to present the collegiate nation's largest hands-on civic engagement project this fall – a full-scale mock presidential election.

"The Road to the White House Starts at Western Illinois University," a five-night simulation set to begin Oct. 23, will showcase what Western Illinois is doing to promote civic engagement as part of the American Democracy Program, as well as to promote a better understanding of the electoral process and to stimulate student involvement in American politics, according to Rick Hardy, chair of Western's political science department and project director. Attracting presidential contenders from all parties to campus is also a hopeful outcome.

The mock election is patterned after a successful simulation Hardy and John Hemingway, associate project director, organized at the University of Iowa in 1976, and another simulation Hardy conducted at the University of Missouri-Columbia (1988). In both scenarios, the simulation winner was, in reality, elected president.

The reality of "The Road to the White House Starts at Western Illinois University" is that it will be a campus-supported, student-run simulation. Students are involved in every aspect of the simulation, from designing logos and state banners to serving as campaign managers, field workers, newspapers editors and reports, broadcast journalists, state delegates or electors and U.S. senators and representatives, according to Hardy.

"This is truly a campuswide collaborative event," Hardy said. "Everyone we ask to participate gives enthusiastic positive responses, and student organizations are coming to us asking what they can do to help. This is civic engagement in action."

Over the summer, five graduating graphic communication majors served internships in Western's Document and Publication Services (DPS) office under the supervision of Shanee Sullivan, graphic designer II, to develop the backdrops, state and territory signs, banners, logos and other visuals for the simulation. Western's Visual Productions Center is printing the items.

The interns, who all earned their Bachelor of Science degree in graphic communication in Summer 2007, include: Tommy Washam, Davenport, IA, who is currently a graduate assistant studying instructional design and technology and working with University Housing and Dining; Tracy Watland, New Lenox, IL; Yuki Hayata, Shiga, Japan; Ye Nay Winn, Burma; and Kirk Mustain, Galesburg, IL, who is currently employed as a graphic designer I in DPS.

"All of these graduates, along with Shanee and DPS, have done a wonderful job in designing all of the important visual elements that will be highly visible in television broadcasts and newspaper/web photographs and images," Hardy said.

The mock election schedule follows (Central Time):

Tuesday, Oct. 23 – Presidential Caucuses & Primaries
University Union Grand Ballroom
5-7 p.m. Democratic Party
8-10 p.m. Republican Party

Thursday, Oct. 25 – National Party Conventions: Keynote and Platform
University Union Grand Ballroom
5-7 p.m. Democratic Party
8-10 p.m. Republican Party

Tuesday, Oct. 30 – National Party Conventions: Nominate Ticket
University Union Grand Ballroom
5-7 p.m. Democratic Party
8-10 p.m. Republican Party

Thursday, Nov. 1 – Viable Third Party Conventions: Nominate Ticket
University Union Lamoine Room
5:30-7 p.m. Green Party
7:30-9 p.m. Libertarian Party

Monday, Nov. 5 – Presidential Campaign & Electoral College Vote
Western Hall
6:30-8:30 p.m. All Parties

See July 30 release

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing