Mock Convention Set for Nov. 7-8
Posted on Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Westminster College's 18th Mock Convention, one of the oldest surviving collegiate conventions in the country, will take place Nov. 7-8.
In the past, the College has held the event early in the presidential election year.
"The Convention is being held earlier due to the national parties continuing to move their state primaries earlier and earlier," said Dr. James Rhoads, Westminster associate professor of political science and faculty adviser to the convention. "We want to have our Convention before the real-life process chooses a candidate (likely to be after the results of the Feb. 5 primaries)."
A quadrennial event since its inception on the Westminster campus in 1936-with the exception of 1944, when it was not held due to World War II-the convention is held for the party not currently in the White House. Thus, this convention and its candidates will be Democratic.
"The purpose of the Convention is to provide a means to further educate the student body on the process of how we elect presidents, the process of candidate selection, and the issues that are likely to be at the forefront of the current election," Rhoads said. "A larger goal is to inspire participation in our electoral process.
"This is the fourth convention that I have advised. All of them have been slightly different, but this time we have had to make some significant changes," Rhoads said.
"Because of the early date, we did not have time to recruit 50 students to take on the role of state chairs. Therefore, we have divided the 50 states into eight regions and we will have regional delegations.
"The short timeframe has required the students to plan in two months what past committees had six months to do. These students, led by executive chair Steven Ruperto, have done an outstanding job. I am quite proud of their efforts and the way they have pulled together to continue this great Westminster tradition."
Ruperto, a senior economics and political science major from Moon Township, is a son of James and Janet Ruperto and a graduate of Moon Area High School.
This year's campaign managers and their candidates are:
Carsen Nesbitt, representing candidate Hillary Clinton, is a senior political science major from Albion, N.Y. She is a daughter of Charles and Kim Nesbitt and a graduate of Charles D'Amico High School. A member of the College Republicans, she said, "I'm really excited to play a role I never otherwise would have played; switching roles entirely."
Kelly Lipka, a senior political science major from Beaver Falls, will represent candidate Barack Obama. She is a daughter of David Lipka and a graduate of Blackhawk High School. "My political affiliation is Republican, which makes this Mock Convention all the more interesting," she said.
Dan Milcarzyk, campaign manager for John Edwards, is a senior history major from North Huntingdon. He is a son of Daniel and Julie Milcarzyk and a graduate of Norwin High School. His campaign is based on the slogan "Let the Debate Decide."
Lipka summed up the goal of the Convention: "It is the process that we are stressing. I have learned so much about the candidates that I would never have learned on my own. It has given me a perspective into the ideals of other people and how they want to implement their ideas."
Rhoads has been with Westminster since 1992. He earned an undergraduate degree, a master's and Ph.D. from Kent State University.
Visit www.westminster.edu/mock or contact Rhoads at (724) 946-7255 (e-mail jrhoads@westminster.edu) for additional information.
More Stories
