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In addition to the public events that bring nationally known speakers to campus, National Agenda also is a UD class that gives undergraduate students the opportunity to meet those speakers in the classroom and informal discussions.
The 25 students, led by Hoffman, met shortly before the Biden-Kasich event in Hullihen Hall and discussed a variety of issues related to political divisions, bipartisanship, and coverage of politics by the media.
The group gathered in the lobby of the building and greeted Biden and Kasich when they arrived together. Joined by Assanis, students asked a few questions of the two and posed for official photos and selfies.
After the program, students talked about the experience of meeting such well-known political figures and interacting with all the National Agenda speakers.
For most sessions, the speakers talk to students in their classroom, then have dinner with them on Main Street before the formal program begins.
“I feel like this is such a great learning experience, and it’s not like any other class I’ve ever had,” said Sarah Fritz, a senior majoring in political science and communication who is planning to attend law school. “We really get to talk to people—authors and politicians and all kinds of people—on a personal level.”
Katie Mazur, a junior also majoring in political science and communication who hopes to become a political reporter, called the class “unique.”
“I’m just so interested in politics, and it’s an amazing opportunity to meet the speakers one on one,” she said. “They come to our class and sit and talk, and then we can talk informally at dinner. It’s just a great experience.”