Spring Break
Task Force brings politics to classroom
Stephanie Takach
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: News
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As the Oct. 30 Democratic Presidential debate approaches, the University is helping students become involved with the political process through the implementation of an election task force.
Drexel's Election Task Force is a coalition between students and faculty members who will serve to focus the campus's attention on the upcoming elections in 2008 and to bring detailed attention to the various issues in the debates.
"The strategy of the task force is to focus attention and make people aware of a series of programs and opportunities that it will soon implement," Dr. Mark Greenberg, dean of the Pennoni Honors College, said.
One approach the task force took to attain its goals is using the Great Works Symposium, sponsored by the Pennoni Honors College.
According to the University web site, "The Great Works Symposium is an interdisciplinary course - focused on exploring subjects of the broadest possible interest and greatest societal impact - designed to bring Drexel University students, teachers, and visiting expert lecturers into collaboration."
Currently, the Great Works Symposium is focusing on topics regarding epidemics, but beginning in fall 2008, it will focus an entire year on democracy. There will be a course dealing specifically with elections that will offer students guest speaker lectures each week followed by small group discussions.
However, some students are hesitant to participate in the Great Works Symposium's democracy series.
"I would participate in these classes, but I think it's important that the classes remain as unbiased as possible," Cameron Birch, a freshman engineering major, said. "In dealing with elections, it's important to present both sides in order to show how past elections are going to influence future elections."
In the symposium, Drexel is seeking to invite guest instructors from colleges across the nation, along with political scientists, historians and other politics experts. The symposium will look to cover events outside of the classroom that may include film viewings about elections and panel discussions. The Election Task Force is planning events on the primary day in order to further discuss the elections and encourage student involvement.
Drexel's Election Task Force is a coalition between students and faculty members who will serve to focus the campus's attention on the upcoming elections in 2008 and to bring detailed attention to the various issues in the debates.
"The strategy of the task force is to focus attention and make people aware of a series of programs and opportunities that it will soon implement," Dr. Mark Greenberg, dean of the Pennoni Honors College, said.
One approach the task force took to attain its goals is using the Great Works Symposium, sponsored by the Pennoni Honors College.
According to the University web site, "The Great Works Symposium is an interdisciplinary course - focused on exploring subjects of the broadest possible interest and greatest societal impact - designed to bring Drexel University students, teachers, and visiting expert lecturers into collaboration."
Currently, the Great Works Symposium is focusing on topics regarding epidemics, but beginning in fall 2008, it will focus an entire year on democracy. There will be a course dealing specifically with elections that will offer students guest speaker lectures each week followed by small group discussions.
However, some students are hesitant to participate in the Great Works Symposium's democracy series.
"I would participate in these classes, but I think it's important that the classes remain as unbiased as possible," Cameron Birch, a freshman engineering major, said. "In dealing with elections, it's important to present both sides in order to show how past elections are going to influence future elections."
In the symposium, Drexel is seeking to invite guest instructors from colleges across the nation, along with political scientists, historians and other politics experts. The symposium will look to cover events outside of the classroom that may include film viewings about elections and panel discussions. The Election Task Force is planning events on the primary day in order to further discuss the elections and encourage student involvement.
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