University News
Politicians, Candidate to Speak at WIU Mock Presidential Election
November 1, 2011
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MACOMB, IL – Illinois Rep. Norine Hammond will speak to students gathered tonight (Tuesday, Nov. 1) at the Mock Presidential Election (MPE) held at Western Illinois University. Her brief talk will be during the 5:15-5:45 p.m. Republican National Convention Nominating Speeches.
At tonight's simulated National Conventions, the nomination of the presidential and vice presidential ticket will be announced. The Republican Convention will be held from 4:45-7 p.m. and the Democratic Convention will be held from 7:45-10 p.m. Democratic Nomination Speeches are scheduled between 8:15-8:45 p.m.
The simulation, known as "The Road to the White House Starts at Western Illinois University," is in its third night of the five-night educational process of hands-on learning, from contacting candidates' campaign headquarters through the nominating and election processes when the next president is chosen by the students, explained Richard Hardy and John Hemingway, executive co-directors.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS
The Thursday, Nov. 3 Viable Third Party National Conventions, with keynote speakers, platform adoptions and president/vice president ticket nomination will include the Green Party, 5:30-7 p.m. (University Union Heritage Room), the Tea Party, 6:30-8 p.m. (Union Lamoine Room) and the Libertarian Party, 7:30-9 p.m. (Union Heritage Room). Adam Chacksfield, a former political science faculty member at WIU, will be the keynote speaker for the Libertarian Convention. The Green Party speaker will be Farheen Hakeem, National Green Party co-chair, who is scheduled to speak at 5:30 p.m. Speaking for the Tea Party is Collin Hitt, senior director of government affairs at the Illinois Policy Institute in Springfield.
Congressman Aaron Schock is scheduled to speak briefly during the final night of the MPE, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7 in Western Hall, when students elect the next president and vice president of the United States. Green Party candidate for president, Dr. Jill Stein, will attend and speak at the closing event. Stein will also be give a 2 p.m. Nov. 7 public lecture titled, "A Green New Deal for America," followed by a meet and greet session in Morgan Hall 101A.
PAST SPEAKERS
Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford, representing Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney, addressed the MPE Oct. 25 first-night Republican caucuses and primaries. Democratic Presidential Candidate Randall Terry spoke for himself through a video link.
Keynote speakers for the Oct. 27 National Conventions to adopt each party's platforms were Debra Detmers Fansler, district director of U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, Republican Convention; and Rep. Mike Boland, Democratic Convention.
CONTROL SHIFT
WIU journalism students are covering the Mock Presidential Election with a web blog called Control Shift. It can be found at http://control-shift.blogspot.com.
TELEVISION COVERAGE
Western Illinois University's broadcasting majors and wiutv3 will be on-camera and behind the scenes each night, providing television coverage of the presidential election simulation, that will air live on Channel 3 in Macomb. Anchors are seniors Paul Strater (Oswego, IL) and Shey Carden (Silex, MO). Junior Rachel Steibing (Chicago 60630) is the on-the-floor reporter doing spot interviews. Other students operate cameras; work the switcher, audio board and character generator; and keep voter statistics. Some crew members help gather information from the political camps.
INFORMATION ON THE WEB
Find schedules, candidates, issues, student leaders, civic leaders, FAQs and more on "The Road to the White House Starts at Western Illinois University" website at wiumockelection.com.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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