MEADVILLE, Pa., Jan. 7, 2008 (AScribe Newswire) -- While pundits analyze the results from voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, Allegheny College has announced an initiative that directly involves citizens in the rest of the country as well.
On Wednesday, Feb. 13, a week after Super-Duper Tuesday, Allegheny College and the New York Times Knowledge Network will host a special event to launch a two-year national project on nomination reform.
The one-day conference at Allegheny College on Feb. 13, in conjunction with a four-week online course (Jan. 30Feb. 20) offered via the New York Times Knowledge Network, will explore past, present and future changes in the presidential nomination process, focusing particular attention on reforms that could be in place before the 2012 election.
The process of selecting presidential party nominees has changed in numerous, important ways over the past two centuries, said Daniel M. Shea, professor of political science and director of the Center for Political Participation at Allegheny College. And, by most accounts, the nomination process, which seems to be in freefall, will not endure another election. Shea also sees a parallel and equally significant issue: the lack of interest in voting among the nations youth. The 2008 Iowa caucus has shown that when young voters believe they can influence the process, they get involved, he said. The Allegheny initiative will train a critical eye on the future of presidential nominations as a mechanism to engage young voters and explore innovative nomination models. Up to 25 colleges from across the country will send student teams to the conference to present their best ideas for reform, the strongest of which will be thoroughly explored in the final week of the online course. Panels, discussion groups and a plenary dinner will allow students to dig into the ramifications of a wide range of innovative approaches to nomination system reform.
Jane Eisner, vice president of national programs and initiatives of the National Constitution Center and author of Taking Back the Vote: Getting American Youth Involved in our Democracy, will present the keynote address at the plenary dinner.
Capping the days conference, Allegheny College will host an evening program. Shea will moderate a panel of elected officials and political experts, to be named soon, in a discussion of the direction of nomination reform in America. This panel discussion will be open to the public and streamed live on the Internet via the New York Times Knowledge Network.
College teams may register to participate in the conference at http://www.nominationreform.org . For more information, call Barb Steadman, 814-332-6202.
ABOUT ALLEGHENY COLLEGE
Allegheny College is one of 10 original members of Project Pericles, which, in 2003, challenged colleges and universities to instill in students an abiding and active sense of social responsibility. A national liberal arts college where 2,100 students with unusual combinations of interests, skills and talents excel.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE DIRECTOR
Daniel M. Shea is a professor of political science at Allegheny College and director of the Allegheny College Center for Political Participation. Professor Shea has a bachelor of arts in political science and American studies from the State University of New York at Oswego and a master of arts in campaign management/applied politics from the University of West Florida. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from the State University of New York at Albany.
Professor Shea has written or edited 12 books on the American electoral process. His most recent project, Living Democracy (Prentice Hall, 2007), is a text on American government designed to inspire young Americans to become more engaged in the political process. In 2007 Shea also edited, with John C. Green, The Fountain of Youth: Strategies and Tactics for Mobilizing Americas Young Voters (Rowman and Littlefield).
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
The Center for Political Participation is dedicated to fostering an appreciation for the vital link between an engaged, active citizenry and a healthy democracy. To that end, the center seeks new strategies and mechanisms for promoting political participation among all citizens, with a particular focus on young Americans.
The Center for Political Participation opened on October 18, 2002 with the goals of helping all Americans better understand the importance of political action and getting involved. The center has established programs for three audiences: our students (campus activities), scholars nationwide (scholarly research), and citizens of the wider community (educational outreach). Web site: http://cpp.allegheny.edu/
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