As the 2016 election cycle moves into its post-Labor Day countdown, Eastern Connecticut State University has created a series of education events and programs designed to highlight the issues surrounding this year’s elections.  The series is titled “Democracy at Work” and features more than 25 events and activities focused on various aspects of the campaign.
Democracy at Work Schedule of Classes

“Our faculty have worked hard to create a set of events that speak to different perspectives on our democratic process,” said Political Science Professor Nicole Krassas, who chaired the faculty planning committee.  “And while our students are always the focus of anything we do on Eastern’s campus, all these events are free and open to the public and we encourage people from the community to join us.”

The election series kicks off with a panel discussion of national media experts on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. in Fine Arts 103.  Panelists include Oren Cass of the Manhattan Institute; Tim Murphy from Mother Jones; and Fernando Pizarro of Univision.  The panel will be moderated by Lucy Nalpathanchil of WNPR.

On Oct. 4, the schedule continues with a live viewing and discussion of the vice presidential debate in the Student Center Theater, beginning at 9 p.m.

On Oct. 5, “Events under Tents” will take place throughout the day on the Webb/Library Quad, and will include voter registration, campaign organization tables, poetry readings and historical games with prizes.  “Events under Tents” will be back all day on Oct. 6.

On Oct. 5 from 3-4 p.m., as part of Eastern’s “University Hour” series, students will conduct a mock presidential debate in the Paul E. Johnson Sr. Community Conference Room in the J. Eugene Smith Library.

Later that day, from 5:30-6:45 p.m. in Fine Arts 115, a reception and discussion will take place on “Visual Democracy: Political Cartoons from the Election,” a visual exhibit of election-related political cartoons that will be on display from Oct. 4-Nov. 2.

Also on the evening of Oct. 5 is “The Immigrant Project: A Multi-Media, Oral Story-Telling Performance” in the Studio Theater of the Fine Arts Instructional Center, beginning at 7 p.m. A second performance will take place on Oct. 6 at 3 p.m.

On Oct. 6, the Connecticut League of Women Voters will host “Election Media: Debates, News Coverage and Social Media” in the Student Center Theater, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Throughout the day on Oct. 5-7, Eastern faculty will be conducting “Open Classrooms” on a variety of topics; the public is invited to attend.  Topics include political advertising, the use of social media in election campaigns, gender and civil rights in politics, protest music, gerrymandering, and much more.

For a complete listing of open classrooms and other “Democracy at Work” events, visit http://www.easternct.edu/democracyatwork