Election Lectures at CCC

Many voters see the presidential election of 2004 as the most important election in the last 100 years of American history. National polls indicate that the country is almost evenly split, and there is great concern that the current campaign will conclude as chaotically as the previous one did in 2000.

What makes this year's campaign such a turning point in American history? Since 2000, the United States has come to face domestic and international challenges that have produced great anxiety and division among its citizenry: The fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan; world terrorism; same-sex marriage; abortion; the future of the Social Security program; and campaign donations.

"Election 2004: A Free Public Lecture Series" will provide current and future voters with a practical, nonpartisan understanding of the American political process. Each lecture will be delivered by a renowned political scholar at 7 p.m. in Dennis Flyer Memorial Theater on CCC's Blackwood Campus.

By date, the scheduled lectures are

* Sept. 29: "On the Cusp of Realignment? The 2004 Battle for the White House" with Thomas Schaller of the University of Maryland - Baltimore County, who is executive editor of the online political magazine Gadflyer. He will discuss political realignment using a historical approach beginning with the realignment between Lincoln's election in 1860 and McKinley's in 1896. He also will review realignment following FDR's and Nixon's elections and discuss the current Republican realignment and its impact.

* Oct. 6: "Have We Come a Long Way, Baby? Women in the Election of 2004" with Jocelyn Crowley of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She will discuss if women elected to office do make a difference in the creation of public policy.

* Oct. 13: "Lawmaking Without Law" with Ross Baker of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He will explain how Congress gave up serious lawmaking on Super Tuesday and became a forum for attacking and defending presidential candidates. Baker also will discuss why this happened and its consequences.

* Oct. 20: "Swing State or Solidly Democratic? New Jersey in the 2004 Presidential Election" with David Rebovich of Rider University, who is the managing director of the Rider University Institute for New Jersey Politics. He will analyze New Jersey's role in the presidential and congressional elections. His also will consider whether a strong showing by the Democratic presidential candidate will sweep Democratic challengers into New Jersey congressional seats currently held by Republicans.

* Oct. 27: "The Values Divide: Religion and Politics in the Election of 2004" with John K. White of Catholic University of America, who is the author of The Values Divide. He will speak about the role of religion in politics, both historically and in the present, explaining the difference in voting habits between those who attend church, mosque and synagogue regularly and those who don't. White will focus on how society's values have shifted over time to cause what seems to be a permanent rift in American politics. He also will consider how the decline of the "traditional" family, the diminishing influence of large church organizations and the introduction of new religions will affect the 2004 election.

This lecture series is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views presented do not represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

Because Camden County College has been designated as an official New Jersey Professional Development Provider, state-certified teachers can earn three hours of approved professional development for each lecture that they attend. Certificates will be distributed after each session. Teachers are encouraged to invite their colleagues and their students to the presentations.

For further details regarding the lecture series or the credit-earning opportunities for teachers, contact Pesda by telephone at (856) 227-7200, ext. 4432, or via e-mail at jpesda@camdencc.edu.

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Author: Press Release-CCC