By now you’ve all heard that Hofstra will be hosting the third and final presidential debate of 2008. When something like this comes along we should all be thinking long and hard about ideas for programs, events, activities, discussion groups and other things that would allow us to take advantage of this great moment in Hofstra history. Think about it – this is something that will be happening here during YOUR college years. So, what do you think? What would you like HUHC to be doing in anticipation and celebration of the fact that Hofstra will be playing host to the person who will become the 44th president of the United States.
I encourage you all to THINK BIG. Hofstra is going to pull out all the stops for this moment when we are literally the focal point for thousands of news related organizations. So, give it your best shot. I’ll bring at least two ideas forward as proposals for the Provost and President to consider. Post them on the blog at www.HUHCConversation.com or send me an email directly.
Warren Frisina, Dean, HUHC
5 comments:
Hofstra shouldd host a debate for the third-party candidates.
Do you remember "National Issues Forum on Terrorism?" Dr. D'Innocenzo and I were involved in it in 2001? It was a peer moderated discussion group about various topics. Perhaps Hofstra could arrange some forums prior to the debate based on certain uses (I was thinking maybe 5 or so discussions). The goal of the forums is to discuss the different perspectives and come to a conclusions as to the best solution. This could be modified to focus on what the candidates platform is. I am certain the campaigns would be willing to send a delegate to ensure that the candidate's correct opinion was being expressed.
One of the biggest problems in any elections is the voters, the mob, are not informed and tend to vote along party lines. Leading up to the debate, I would love to see, and I think other people would love to see and benefit from seeing, debates or discussions concerning hot election topics.
Let me explain. Much of the debate will be about future policy, or at least we hope it will be. When the candidates debate about their ideas about health care and what they will do about it, it would be beneficial to students to have some background information besides he is Republican and he/she is Democrat.
Leading up to the debate, we should have more than moderated discussions. We should have mini debates, either between scholars or experts on the matter, or well informed Hofstra faculty members (a person may fall into both categories). Only after hearing a debate dealing with the perks and the consequences of both sides of a topic would I feel comfortable having a discussion, not necessarily because I do not know about a topic (and I do not feel well-informed about many of the topics), but also because I do not know that the other people are well-informed on the topic.
Also, will HUHC be securing at least some tickets at the debate. It would be a tragedy if students were not able to attend in large numbers.
Well, i think it should be known what the format will be. Will there be questions submitted? If so, we should make sure at least some of those are from students (no offense to the professors, but we're going to be stuck with the impact of the next president for a longer period of time than you are).
Also, some lectures one some of the issues. Not "what should be done about social security", but "what IS social security" so that those who don't know can have some basis to form an opinion.
It might be interesting to put out a series of informational pamphlets on the candidates and the issues, with some basic facts as well as commentary and opinions from HUHC students. You could have one for each of the two main candidates, one for third party candidates (or give each of the major ones his own) and a few covering major issues like Social Security, taxes, immigration, national security, etc.
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