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The Road to the White House Mock Presidential Election Begins Oct. 23; Illinois Senators Jacobs, Dillard to Give Keynote Party Speeches

October 22, 2007

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The Western Illinois University student body might very well select the next president of the United States during a five-night presidential election simulation beginning Tuesday, Oct. 23 titled "The Road to the White House Starts at Western Illinois University."

The mock election is patterned after a successful simulation Rick Hardy, chair of Western's political science department and project director, 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.

"This event allows us to showcase what Western Illinois University is doing to promote civic engagement as part of the American Democracy Project," Hardy added. "We believe that this mock presidential election not only will promote a better understanding of the electoral process, but also will stimulate student involvement in American politics as well."

Simulated state presidential caucuses and primaries begin Oct. 23 in the University Union Grand Ballroom. The Democrat Party will meet from 5-7 p.m., and the Republican Party will meet from 8-10 p.m. The simulation continues Thursday, Oct. 25; Tuesday, Oct. 30; Thursday, Nov. 1; and concludes Thursday, Nov. 5 with the naming of the 44th President and Vice President of the United States. A complete schedule is listed below and on the web at http://roadtowhitehouse.wiu.edu.

Illinois Senators to Give Party Speeches
Illinois Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) and Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) will present the keynote speeches for their parties Thursday, Oct. 25. The mock Democratic Convention will be held from 5-7 p.m. and the mock Republican Convention will be held from 8-10 p.m. in the University Union Grand Ballroom.

Jacobs, a fourth generation family member to serve in the Illinois General Assembly, was appointed to the senate in February 2005, and he was elected to his post in 2007. He serves as chair of the Housing and Community Affairs Committee; and he is also a member of the Senate Committee of the Whole; Appropriations III; Human Services; Insurance; Subcommittee on Community Affairs; and the Subcommittee on Housing.

Dillard, a current member of Western Illinois University's Alumni Council, served as a staff consultant for the Illinois State Senate and as a senate liaison for the Illinois Office of the Governor before being appointed in 1983 as attorney and director of legislative affairs for Gov. James Thompson. He was a judge for the State of Illinois Court of Claims from 1987 to 1990. In 1991 he was named chief of staff to Gov. Jim Edgar. Dillard was elected to the State Senate in 1993 and was presented Western's Distinguished Alumni Award that same year. He co-chairs the Judiciary Civil Law Committee; and is a member of the Senate Committee of the Whole; Executive Appointments; Judiciary Criminal Law; Licensed Activities; and Environment and Energy committees. Dillard also is a partner in the Chicago law firm Lord, Bissell and Brook.

Education for All, By All
Among the objectives of the mock presidential election are to further the goals of the University's "High Values in Higher Education" strategic plan, which includes goals of academic excellence, educational opportunity, personal growth and social responsibility; foster civic education and engagement; engage students in Western's First Year Experience (FYE) program; stimulate student/faculty interaction; encourage collaboration among faculty across colleges and departments; and train future civic leaders, according to Hardy.

To achieve these, Western Illinois students, faculty, staff and alumni will role play convention delegates, campaign workers, political strategists, news editors, print journalists, broadcast journalists and members of the Electoral College for the hands-on experience – and understanding – of America's presidential election process, Hardy said.

Senior political science major and Honors pre-law minor Julia Remes (Arden Hills, MN) is the student coordinator for the simulation, in charge of contacting and organizing the student campaign leaders. Remes arranged for some 300 upper-division students – many from Western's Centennial Honors College, Student Government and recognized student political organizations – to serve as campaign leaders, who develop strategies, organize and educate field workers and serve as the spokesperson for the campaigns. Field workers then promote candidates and seek votes. Students also will role play U.S. senators and representatives and delegates representing each state.

Some 70 faculty members are actively participating in the simulation, with many more faculty, administrators and staff, as well as alumni and volunteers, working behind the scenes, Hardy said.

"'The Road to the White House Starts at Western Illinois University' is a collaborative effort that involves scores of faculty, staff, students, alumni and volunteers. Macomb's League of Women Voters have graciously consented to serve as election judges. Everyone's support and assistance have been outstanding," Hardy added.

Real-Time Blog; Newspaper
Approximately 50 journalism students will provide print and online news coverage, with the assistance of four journalism faculty members: Bill Knight, Lisa Barr, Lisa Kernek and Mark Butzow.

Barr's "Reporting I" students will serve as the primary information gatherers, and Kernek's "Reporting II" students will report and serve as same-night copy editors. Real-time blogging updates on each of the five nights of the simulation will be provided by five students under the direction of Knight. Butzow's copy-editing students will write headlines and suggest designs for newspaper pages for the four-page newspapers they will create on a two-day delay to distribute at the start of each subsequent mock election event day.

"A lot could go wrong in such a big undertaking, but this also could be a big learning opportunity that will be a highlight of their college careers of many for our journalism students," Butzow said.

The journalism professors created the blog site "News-Meister" (http://news-meister.blogspot.com) where updated information about the simulation will be posted. The blog currently includes some informational posts from Butzow and students. Real-time updates will be posted during the evening events at "Real Time News" (http://newsmeisterrealtime.blogspot.com).

Live Television Broadcast
Western's broadcasting department and WIUTV-3 will provide television coverage of each night's events, which will air live on Channel 3 in Macomb, according to Sharon Evans, professor and chair of the department.

Approximately 15 students will assist behind the scenes in each broadcast, operating cameras; working the switcher, audio board and character generator; and keeping voter statistics. Some crew members will help gather information from the political camps.

Anchors for the WIUTV-3 production are senior broadcasting major/communication minor Liz Bales (Sherrard, IL) and senior music major (music business)/broadcasting and marketing minors Patrick Downing (West Point, IA). The floor reporter is senior broadcasting major/English minor Lindsay O'Connell (Plainfield, IL).

Bands to Balloons
When Hardy called the "Road to the White House Starts at Western Illinois University" Mock Presidential Election a simulation, he meant "simulation" – imitation, replication – literally, with all the pomp and circumstance.

Logo backdrops, state and territory signs and banners – developed by Western's Document and Publication Services and printed by Western's Visual Productions Center – will be prominently on display. Western's ROTC Bulldog Battalion Color Guard will present the Colors; Paul Kreider, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, will sing the National Anthem; WIU's improv troupe The Surgin' Generals will perform; Uncle Sam will be portrayed by Ken Mietus, sociology professor; patriotic music will play each session; and when the simulation is gaveled closed Nov. 5, the WIU's Marching Leathernecks Band will play "Stars and Stripes Forever" as thousands of balloons are dropped from the rafters in Western Hall.

Mock Election Schedule (CT)
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


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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