October will feature Kennedy Political Union speakers Ari Fleischer and John Glenn, and a debate between CNN Crossfire's Tucker Carlson and Clinton speechwriter Andrei Cherny. These figures will visit AU as part of this month's "Election Coverage - KPU Style."
"I think the election coverage month will promote voter awareness, the issues that will be decided by this election and how important those issues are to our future," said KPU Director Emily Fuller. Fuller said students should expect between 10 and 11 speakers this semester, more than previous years.
Looking ahead
Fleischer, former White House press secretary and assistant to President George W. Bush, will speak on Oct. 14 at 8:15 p.m. in the Kay Spiritual Center as part of Homecoming Weekend. The College Republicans are co-sponsoring the event with KPU.
Family Weekend will feature Glenn on Oct. 23 at 8:15 p.m. in Bender Arena. Glenn is a former Democratic senator from Ohio, but is better known as the first astronaut to orbit the Earth in 1962.
KPU will also host a debate between Carlson, a conservative figure on the political roundtable "Crossfire," and Cherny, who was the youngest White House speechwriter ever at age 21 under Clinton's administration. The debate will take place Oct. 28 at 8:15 p.m. in Ward 1. The Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, the College Democrats and the College Republicans will co-sponsor the event.
This debate will follow "Debating the Presidential Debate: A Discussion of U.S. Foreign Policy," a debate between the College Republicans and College Democrats, on Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Kay Spiritual Center. Louis Goodman, dean of the School of International Service, will moderate. KPU will also co-sponsor a post-election forum with the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, on Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Mary Graydon Center, which will feature expert faculty.
Looking back
Since the year's start, KPU has had six events, including the Capitol Steps, a political satire group, and Candace Bushnell, creator of the column-turned-HBO series "Sex in the City."
Fuller said turnout for this year's speakers has been positive. In the case of Bushnell, the venue was so packed that KPU had to turn people away.
"Attendance has gone up some [since last year]," Fuller said. "KPU has become more prominent on campus."
John Calabrese, a junior, attended the Capitol Steps event during Welcome Week.
"Last year I went to much more," said Calabrese, "It just depends on what I find most interesting."
Calabrese said he would like KPU to bring more prominent speakers to AU, like Independent Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.
Alexis Boudreau, a senior, attended Capitol Steps this semester and an appearance by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev last semester.
"I'm glad we have [KPU] on campus. I don't think there are many schools who can say they have people like Mikhail Gorbachev speak candidly," Boudreau said.
Katelyn Keegan, a senior, said she frequently attends KPU events.
"KPU's speakers have been outstanding because they have been talking about current issues," Keegan said, citing national security as a major current issue"
Annie O'Connell, a junior, would like KPU to bring more social commentators, like Candace Bushnell.
"I had class that day, but I would have gone to it," O'Connell said.
Fuller said she tries to accommodate different groups on campus.
"We want to bring human-interest speakers," she said. "Not just for SPA students, not just for SIS students, but for everyone."
Student Confederation President Polson Kanneth said this year's success is largely due to Fuller's dedication and the positive pressure of 2004 being a national election year.
"This year we're having a bigger emphasis on the election," said Kanneth, who was KPU's Logistics Coordinator last year. "People come here to AU because they want that political aspect."
KPU's mission is to bring "the most prominent figures in national and international public life to the campus," according to the KPU Web site.
KPU has co-sponsored all of their events this year.
KPU was founded in 1969 by AU alumnus Tom Block. Block was inspired by former President John F. Kennedy's June 1963 on-campus speech that addressed world peace. KPU has sponsored political and social figures including the Dalai Lama, Tipper Gore, Coretta Scott King, Ted Kennedy and Colin Powell.
For more information about KPU call x 6416 or stop by Mary Graydon Center 266.
