MEADVILLE, Pa. – Jan. 4, 2008 – Today, while pundits analyze Iowa’s results and candidates shift their attention to New Hampshire voters, Allegheny College 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. 30–Feb. 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 nation’s 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 day’s 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 www.nominationreform.org. For more information, call Barb Steadman, 814-332-6202.
