Elon students and faculty discuss politics in national
teleconference
Andrew Baker / Reporter
Approximately 40 Elon students and faculty members took part
in a national teleconference regarding “The New Student
Politics” Feb. 19.
Additional representatives from colleges across the nation
also participated in the teleconference, which was broadcast
from Michigan State University, the host site of the debate.
Seven panelists debated issues written in “The New
Student Politics: Wingspread Statement on Student Civic
Engagement,” a document that was written by 33 juniors
and seniors from 27 colleges and universities in 2001. The
document is described as one that “examines
contemporary conceptions of civic engagement, politics and
service.”
“It’s really about students talking about their
voice,” said Jeff Stein, assistant dean of students at
Elon.
The document gives specific suggestions about how campuses
can improve their commitment to student civic engagement
through service-learning, increased support for student
political activity and attentiveness to student voice. The
document also articulates a clear vision for what it means to
be engaged in civic life and why they chose particular forms
of engagement.
The discussion panel was comprised of seven professionals
and students, including David Cooper, a Michigan State
professor, as moderator; Ernie Boone, executive director of
Black Child and Family Institute; Piyali Nath Dalal, a
University of Minnesota graduate; John Keiser, president of
Southwest Missouri State University; Sarah Long, an author of
“The New Students Politics;” Fabricio Rodriquez,
a member of the national Campus Compact Advisory Board and
Emily Yee, a senior at University of California at San Diego.
The Michigan State host site began broadcasting the panel
discussion at 2 p.m. to schools around the nation. For 30
minutes, panelists debated issues raised in the “New
Student Politics” document. During the last 30 minutes
of the broadcast, the panel took questions via e-mail,
telephone and from the audience.
Elon University student Brett Cooper was one of the few
students whose question was addressed during this short time.
He asked, “Aren’t the students proposing forced
service learning in the curriculum?”
Panel member Ernie Boone answered the question by saying,
“Sometimes you have to force people to open their
eyes.”
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