SBU Students Get Look at Politics
Earlier this fall when 14 St. Bonaventure students signed up for a special Washington, D.C., academic seminar about the new presidential administration, they didn’t even know who the 44th president of the United States was going to be. It didn’t matter; they knew it was going to be an opportunity of a lifetime.
For 10 days in January, the students will participate in a unique course that will examine the issues and implications of the Obama administration and study the role the media plays in the political process – all under the backdrop of the nation’s capital.
The seminar starts Jan. 10 and ends Jan. 20, Inauguration Day.
“This is one of the most historic elections in American history and in a time with so many troubles, Barack Obama has promised us so much, so I would like to be a part of this history,” said SBU junior Dan Volkosh of Middleport, N.Y.
The St. Bonaventure students and professor Dr. Danette Brickman, who will serve as a faculty leader and instructor for the course, will join college students from across the country for The Presidential Inauguration program sponsored by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.
The seminar program is taught as a course and will examine the issues and implications of the Obama administration. The students’ days will be split between small seminars in the morning and afternoon speakers and visits to sites including embassies, news agencies CNN and Fox, the Brookings Institute, Pew Research Center, Amnesty International and the Democratic and Republican national committees.
Tentative speakers include ABC News anchor Sam Donaldson, the Discovery Channel’s Ted Koppel and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey.
Volkosh, who is president of the College Democrats, is looking forward to being “in an optimistic atmosphere for 10 days with millions of other Americans and to experience living history in our country’s capital.”
The Presidential Inauguration program will host more than 700 college students from institutions such as Ball State, Loyola Marymount, Miami Dade and the University of Florida.
“I think it’s going to be a great experience for our students because they’re going to be interacting with students from all over the country,” Brickman said.
As part of the course, the students will have the opportunity to visit the Newseum, the new Capitol Visitors Center, attend a U.S. Chamber of Commerce cocktail party/social, and enjoy a special performance by satirist Mark Russell at George Washington University.
Although they don’t have tickets to the inauguration of president-elect Obama, Brickman said the Bona’s contingent “will be trying to get as close as possible” to the inauguration festivities on Jan. 20.
With estimates ranging from 1 million to 5 million people descending on Washington, D.C., to mark the inauguration, Brickman said, “this is going to be the biggest thing we’ve seen in years. The students are beside themselves. I think it’s going to be a great experience. Most have never been to D.C. before.”
As part of their coursework, the students will be videotaping and photographing their experiences for presentations to the university community and local high schools when they return.
For 10 days in January, the students will participate in a unique course that will examine the issues and implications of the Obama administration and study the role the media plays in the political process – all under the backdrop of the nation’s capital.
The seminar starts Jan. 10 and ends Jan. 20, Inauguration Day.
“This is one of the most historic elections in American history and in a time with so many troubles, Barack Obama has promised us so much, so I would like to be a part of this history,” said SBU junior Dan Volkosh of Middleport, N.Y.
The St. Bonaventure students and professor Dr. Danette Brickman, who will serve as a faculty leader and instructor for the course, will join college students from across the country for The Presidential Inauguration program sponsored by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.
The seminar program is taught as a course and will examine the issues and implications of the Obama administration. The students’ days will be split between small seminars in the morning and afternoon speakers and visits to sites including embassies, news agencies CNN and Fox, the Brookings Institute, Pew Research Center, Amnesty International and the Democratic and Republican national committees.
Tentative speakers include ABC News anchor Sam Donaldson, the Discovery Channel’s Ted Koppel and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey.
Volkosh, who is president of the College Democrats, is looking forward to being “in an optimistic atmosphere for 10 days with millions of other Americans and to experience living history in our country’s capital.”
The Presidential Inauguration program will host more than 700 college students from institutions such as Ball State, Loyola Marymount, Miami Dade and the University of Florida.
“I think it’s going to be a great experience for our students because they’re going to be interacting with students from all over the country,” Brickman said.
As part of the course, the students will have the opportunity to visit the Newseum, the new Capitol Visitors Center, attend a U.S. Chamber of Commerce cocktail party/social, and enjoy a special performance by satirist Mark Russell at George Washington University.
Although they don’t have tickets to the inauguration of president-elect Obama, Brickman said the Bona’s contingent “will be trying to get as close as possible” to the inauguration festivities on Jan. 20.
With estimates ranging from 1 million to 5 million people descending on Washington, D.C., to mark the inauguration, Brickman said, “this is going to be the biggest thing we’ve seen in years. The students are beside themselves. I think it’s going to be a great experience. Most have never been to D.C. before.”
As part of their coursework, the students will be videotaping and photographing their experiences for presentations to the university community and local high schools when they return.
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