Looking forward: panel tackles next steps for Obama administration
"Speak Up, Speak Out: The Current Event Series" returns with its first series of 2009, featuring a panel on the upcoming administration of President Barack Obama.
The forum is entitled "After the Inaugural: What Now?? Influencing the Agenda of the Obama Administration," and will be moderated by political science professor J. Cherie Strachan.
The forum will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 in the Bovee University Center Auditorium. Panelists will include political science professor Delbert Ringquist, sociology department Chairwoman Angela Haddad and Mount Pleasant senior Christina Wickham, who attended the inauguration in Washington, D.C.
The forum follows the fall 2008 series, which focused on the 2008 presidential election between Obama and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
The purpose of those forums was to debate the merits of each candidate, while Strachan's intent with this forum is to look forward to see how Obama's message will translate from the campaign trail to his administration.
"The panel is intended as a follow-up to the Obama inaugural," Strachan said. "Specifically, we hope to discuss the themes of community participation stressed throughout the campaign, as well as (we anticipate) in his inaugural."
The topic of bipartisanship is expected to be a major topic as well.
"We hope to discuss whether Obama's emphasis on bipartisanship cooperation and problem-solving can be maintained - in both D.C. and here in Michigan," she said.
Community involvement was a main theme of Obama's campaign, given his role as a community organizer in Chicago. Obama even spent time Monday volunteering at a Washington- area shelter painting walls and pieces of furniture.
Strachan hopes to discuss ways to make Obama's commitment to civic involvement carry over with students now that the campaign is over.
"We would like to brainstorm about ways for students to remain active in political and civic life, even though the campaign is over," she said.
university@cm-life.com
