Now Hear This UD!
The Center for Political Communication is a proud
co-sponsor of Now Hear This UD!, an annual spring public speaking
contest for UD students. Communication professor and CPC-affiliated
faculty member, Dr. Tracey Holden, has directed the event since 2013,
which annually draws an audience of more than 300 students. Seven to 10
students currently enrolled in COMM212, Oral Communication in Business,
are eligible to compete. Prizes are awarded to the top three public
speakers. Contestants deliver 7-minute speeches about a
chosen topic based on the theme of diversity and inclusion. The purpose
of the competition is not just to find the best public
speaker but also to showcase the value of communication and committed
effort from all to foster inclusion in a diverse community.
Students host Delaware Democratic Primary Debates
The Center for Political Communication co-sponsored a
Delaware Primary Debate held in Mitchell Hall on April 12, 2016, hosted
by the University of Delaware College Democrats. The event featured
Democratic candidates for running for the open seat in the U.S. House of
Representatives. Moderator Jordan McBride, a news anchor with 49 News at
STN (Student Television Network at UD) questioned the candidates.
Retired Marine Sean Barney, State Senator Bryan Townsend, and accountant
Mike Miller shared their positions on the most vital issues
in Delaware and Washington on education, women's rights, the
environment, criminal justice reform, foreign affairs, and the economy.
The debate was free and open to the public.
Conversations and Connections in Washington, DC
The Center for Political Communication proudly
co-sponsored an alumni networking event on November 12, 2015, at
NPR Headquarters in Washington, DC. CPC Founding Director Ralph
Begleiter moderated a panel
talk on "The New World of Digital Politics," featuring NPR's Domenico
Montanaro (AS '01), campaign strategist Brian Donahue, CPC Associate
Director
Professor Lindsay Hoffman, and NPR correspondent Sam Sanders. The event
was part of the popular Conversations and Connections series,
hosted by the UD's Office of Development and
Alumni Relations. Conversations and Connections draws together current
students, alumni
and friends all interested in broad, far-ranging topics.
In addition to the panel discussion on digital politics, members of the Delaware Diamonds Society
and donors to the CPC and College of Arts and Sciences
had the rare chance to tour NPR’s headquarters earlier in the evening,
walking through the newsroom, sitting in production studios and even
meeting on-air personalities Audie Cornish, one of NPR’s All Things Considered anchors, and Mara Liasson, NPR’s senior political correspondent.
Students
benefited from the networking event as well, chatting up the speakers
and alumni before and after the event. Freshman political science and
international major Tamar Epps sought
advice from NPR reporter Sam Sanders on the importance of black voices
in the media. “It’s fascinating to be here,” she said after their
discussion. “I’m
so glad we have events like this, where we can meet and learn from
leaders in the field. It’s an incredible opportunity.”