On Wednesday, October 9, the Department of Political Science partnered with the Office of Student Involvement and Engagement, the Department of History, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication for “Bobcats, Let’s Talk: A Student-Led Panel on the Presidential Election.” Over 50 students, faculty, and family members attended the event. The forum was designed to give students access to many distinct perspectives.
Moderated by Emma Vega, a senior majoring in public relations and minoring in political communication and public administration, and AnaBelle Elliott, a senior majoring in journalism, the panelists addressed a wide array of topics including civil rights, foreign affairs, healthcare, climate change, gun violence, and voting. The panel was followed by a question-and-answer session.
The panelists were
- Adriana Montoya – graduate student, Geography
- Luiz Francisco Osorio – graduate student, History
- Adrian Cornejo – junior, Political Science
- Cayla Sims – sophomore, Public Relations
- Ashley Waters – senior, Electronic Media
- Kaylie Kruk – senior, Electronic Media
- Taryn Chavez Word – senior, Public Administration
Students in attendance spoke highly about the event, stating the panel was “informational and well-structured.” One student shared that they admired the confidence of the panelists and enjoyed seeing effective, civil conversation about these issues, which can quickly become controversial.
A recording of the panel can be found here. This event was part of a larger series on civic engagement, and the next event, “Insights and Highlights: Elections Predictions Panel,” will take place on October 30. See more information on the event page here.
