“Political Realities One Year After the 2012 Election: The Debate Continues” is scheduled for Oct. 3, the anniversary of the showdown between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
When the University of Denver hosted the first presidential debate of the 2012 election last fall, it was a historic first for the institution, the city of Denver and the state of Colorado.
To commemorate the event and to extend its educational impact, the University is hosting “Political Realities One Year After the 2012 Election: The Debate Continues,” scheduled for Oct. 3, the anniversary of the showdown between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
The program — from 4 to 6 p.m. in Davis Auditorium in Sturm Hall — features a number of debate- and politics-related segments, including a panel discussion in which experts will offer their scorecard of political activities over the past year. Composed of University of Denver experts and local political figures, the panel will examine major issues raised in the 2012 debate and provide connections to our current state of affairs. Panel members also will discuss the pressing issues and political races likely to figure in the 2014 and 2016 elections.
Panelists range from Christopher Hill, former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and dean of the University’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies, to Dick Wadhams and Rick Palacio, chairs of the Colorado Republicans and Colorado Democrats, respectively. Also adding to the discussion will be Seth Masket, chair of the University’s political science department and a nationally prominent blogger; Lisa Martinez, associate professor of sociology and an expert on Hispanic voters; Sharon Lassar, director of the School of Accountancy and an expert on the economy; and Chuck Plunkett, political reporter at the Denver Post. The panel will be moderated by noted journalist Cynthia Hessin, host of “Colorado State of Mind,” a news-analysis program aired on Rocky Mountain PBS.
“The debate was such an exciting time on campus, and we really want to keep that spirit alive,” says Greg Glasgow, editor of the University of Denver Magazine and organizer of the event. “The issues raised by Obama and Romney one year ago are still relevant today, and I am looking forward to hearing our panel discuss them. This should be a great opportunity for the DU community to stay politically aware.”
In addition to the panel discussion, the program will include:
• the premiere of a 20-minute documentary about the 2012 debate produced by DU videographer Jeff Haessler
• a review of the 2012 debate’s importance to Denver and the University, featuring a video montage of television coverage
To register for the free event, which is open to the public, visit debate2012.du.edu.