Coverdell symposium examines world elections
Co-sponsored by the Coverdell Institute, the International Education Center and Academic Affairs, the Coverdell Symposium celebrated its fourth year Feb. 25 through 27. This year’s theme, “Our Citizens and the 2008 National Elections: Czech Republic, Russia and the U.S.”
“The fundamental purpose of the symposium is to help the campus and the Milledgeville community appreciate the challenges of democratic practices in two countries: the Czech Republic and Russia, now twenty years after the fall of the Communist Empire,” Gregg Kaufman, director of the American Democracy Project said.
Visiting faculty and speakers to GCSU included Dr. Stanislav Bohadlo, musicology and study abroad, University of Hradec Králové; Dr. Jan Outl?, chair, political science, University of Hradec Králové; John Reuter, Ph.D. candidate, Emory University; and Dr. Yuliya Tverdova, political science, University of California, Irvine.
The symposium kicked off the week on Monday in the Arts and Sciences Auditorium with a film festival.
“We created the film series because visual material tends to attract certain folk,” Kaufman said.
Selected films for the week included “Frontline: Return of the Czar,” You Tube short films concerning the 2008 national elections moderated by Dr. William Risch, assistant professor of history, GCSU, as well as “After the Velvet Revolution.”
“My goal really is to show how there has been problems in creating a democratic society in Russia when we look at what has happened with the collapse of Communism, with the spread of corruption, the vast differences between rich and poor, and the sense that democracy is somehow being manipulated from outside the country by the West,” Risch said.
Discussion panels were held Monday and Wednesday evening in the Arts and Sciences Auditorium. “Discussion I: Citizens and Democracy,” moderated by Dr. Roy Moore, associate vice president and professor of mass communication, GCSU, and further discussed by Dr. Jaroslav Miller, history, Palack? University; Rueter; and Dr. Jared Johnson, lecturer of mass communication, GCSU, focused primarily on the civic influences by emerging democratic practices, media role and shifts in government and citizen relationships. Facilitated by Risch, and further introduced by Outl?, Reuter, and Dr. Michael Digby, interim dean of School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of political science, GCSU, “Discussion II: Citizens and Elections,” on Wednesday, directed focus on function of political parties, election organization, funds, supervision, voting response, as well as key issues for the 2008 national election.
Risch believes that it is significant for everyone to understand why citizens of other countries, especially Russia, feel the way they do, and that different views are present within countries.
“I think it is important for people to understand why Russians feel threatened. Why for them democracy has lost its meaning in some cases, while also trying to point out how there is an attempt to get different opinions on politics and that those different opinions do exists within Russia,” Risch said.
A sold out luncheon with keynote speaker, Tverdova was given Tuesday afternoon in the University Banquet Room, hosted by President Dorothy Leland, where over 130 guests attended. Tverdova spoke on issues concerning the current U.S. national election, political dynamics in both Russia and the Czech Republic, roles of political parties, citizens, media, as well as democracy in Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation.
Tuesday evening gave way to “The Power of Change, The Sound of Changes” concert in the Arts and Sciences Auditorium.
“One of the other things that the Coverdell Symposium has always tried to do is to blend the performing arts and visual arts with our subject matter,” Kaufman said.
The concert featured music from the GCSU Jazz Combo under the direction of Dr. Todd Shiver, professor of music and director of bands, GCSU, Russian music featuring Dr. Richard Mercier, music chair and professor of music, GCSU; and Dr. Wendy Mullen, associate professor of music, GCSU, and music from the Czech Republic featuring Bohadlo.
Guest faculty and speakers also visited eleven classes throughout the week.
Students involved with iColony from University Communications also worked to capture the symposium.
“They are going to be capturing the multimedia means, and capturing the various things that are happening in the symposium, and we hope to put something together,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman hopes that the symposium helped both student and faculty become more globally aware.
“Some people would say that democracy is messy, and I think there are times when many Americans take for granted the hard work of freedom, and even think of it as a historical event with the founders, but in reality, there are founders of democracies all over the world, and what we might have experienced in the eighteenth century, others are experiencing in the late twentieth and early twenty first century,” Kaufman said.
Coverdell Symposium Speakers
Dr. Jan Outly
School: The University of Hradec Králové, Political Science Chair
Panel: Panel – Citizens and Elections
Time: Wednesday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m.
Place: A&S Auditorium
Topic: Current political dynamics in each country including campaign economics, political parties, voting trends and campaign issues.
John Reuter
School: Emory University, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science
Event: Panel – Citizens and Democracy
Time: Monday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
Place: A&S Auditorium
Topic: Russian and Czech democratic practices, citizen engagement and the role of the media.
Dr. Yuliya Tverdova
School: University of California Irvine
Event: Symposium Luncheon & Address
Time: Tuesday, Feb. 26, 12:30 p.m.
Place: University Banquet Room
Topic: Emerging Democracies and the Courts of Public Opinion in Eastern Europe and Russia.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Feb 29 2008. Filed under News.
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