In 2008, of the 18- to 24-year-old college students who registered to vote, 87 percent actually voted, according to statistics from the Fair Elections Legal Network (FELN). However, despite widespread reports of overwhelming youth engagement in the 2008 election, young voters only made up about 19 percent of the electorate.

While the college voting stats for Election 2012 are yet to be tallied, a robust series of programming is underway at Fairfield to engage students and others in the electoral process - from presentations by national media figures and debate viewing parties to election - day shuttle rides to the polls.

The inaugural event in Fairfield University's 2012 Election series is "America at the Crossroads: Election 2012," featuring Donna Brazile and Dana Perino, two nationally known political commentators representing both sides of the aisle. The event, the 7th Annual Students Forum, is scheduled for Monday, October 1 at 8 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and is a collaboration with Fairfield's Open VISIONS Forum series.

Also on the Election Series schedule are the following events:

Wednesday, October 3

• Presidential Debate on Domestic Policy Viewing Party
  9 p.m., John A. Barone Campus Center, Lower Lobby

Thursday, October 11

• WVOF "Where We Live" interview with candidate Steve Obsitnik
  9 a.m.-10 a.m., WVOF Studio, John A. Barone Campus Center, Lower Lobby
• A Discussion about Media & Politics with John Dankosky, news director at WNPR
  10:30 a.m. John A. Barone Campus Center, Lower Lobby
• Vice Presidential Debate on Foreign and Domestic Policy Viewing Party
  9 p.m. John A. Barone Campus Center, Lower Lobby
  Sponsored by Student Programs & Leadership Development

Monday, October 15

• "Behind the Scenes in American Politics with former Time Magazine and White House Photographer P.F. Bentley"
  7 p.m. John A. Barone Campus Center, Lower Lobby

Tuesday, October 16

• WVOF "Where We Live" interview with Congressman Jim Himes
  9 a.m.-10 a.m. WVOF Studio, John A. Barone Campus Center, Lower Lobby
• Presidential Debate Town Meeting format on foreign and domestic policy Viewing Party
  9 p.m. John A. Barone Campus Center, Lower Lobby

Monday, October 22

• Presidential Debate on Domestic Policy Viewing Party

Thursday, October 25

• The 19th Annual Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., Lecture in Theology, Religion and Society - "American Catholic Citizenship: 2012" featuring Stephen Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies and associate professor of politics, the Catholic University of America
  8 p.m., Dolan School of Business Dining Room

Tuesday, November 6

• Election Day Television Viewing All Day
  John A. Barone Campus Center, Lower Lobby
  Election Polling Van Rides - Need a ride to go vote? Vans will be dropping off students every half-hour and will leave from the John A. Barone Campus Center

Thursday, November 8

• 2012 Election Review featuring Dr. Donald W. Greenberg, professor of politics
  1:30 p.m., Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield
• "The Impact of the Media on the 2012 Election" featuring Dr. James Simon, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of English
  7 p.m., Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield

Monday, November 12

• "From Print to Online to the Future: The Changing Face of News" featuring former Washington Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr., Fairfield Mirror Editor Martin O'Sullivan, Connecticut Post and Connecticut Mirror online news reporter Neena Satija, Communications Professor Michael Serazio, and moderator Dr. James Simon, associate dean College of Art & Sciences
  5 p.m., DiMenna-Nyselius Library Multimedia Room

Tuesday, November 13

• "The Lessons of the 2012 Election and Its News Coverage" featuring Leonard Downie Jr., former executive editor of The Washington Post
  7 p.m., Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield

Posted On: 09-28-2012 11:09 AM

Volume: 45 Number: 60