CAMPAIGN SEASON
Students hoping to gain insight into the inner workings of the 2004 presidential campaigns, meanwhile, may shop Government 1352, “Campaigns and Elections.”
Olivia H. Levine ’08 wrote in an e-mail, “I would like to be well informed when I vote, and I believe a class like that government class would be quite informative.”
The class will be taught for the second consecutive year by Assistant Professor of Government D. Sunshine Hillygus.
“Although the course will focus on political science theories regarding campaigns and elections, the topics covered will certainly have implications for understanding the current presidential race,” Hillygus wrote in an e-mail. “We will discuss, for instance, the role of conventions and debates, political advertising, media influence, etc. But not to worry—there will still be plenty of material to cover after Election Day.”
She wrote that she expects to emphasize the connections between the class’ political theory and current events.
“The current electoral context will give students a clear opportunity to apply and evaluate the concepts learned in class,” she wrote. “In fact, I will expect them to do so.”
Institute of Politics (IOP) Student Advisory Committee president Ilan T. Graff ’05 wrote that, based on his own experience in the class two years ago, the course should provide a comprehensive overview of American electoral politics.
“[The course] will make it easier for them to interpret and contextualize the strategies executed by Democrats and Republicans in the months leading up to the election. I am confident that many students will take advantage of this worthwhile opportunity to learn more about American politics,” he wrote. “Students will have to avail themselves of additional resources, though, if they want to improve their understanding of the specific policies that underlie the parties’ respective campaigns.”
But Andrew J. Frank ’05, president of the Harvard College Democrats, expressed skepticism about learning about the current campaign in the classroom.
“I don’t really know much about [the course] except that it’s nothing you can’t learn from hanging around the IOP and reading The New York Times,” he wrote.
Despite current events, not everyone said they were enthusiastic about taking the course.
“My roommates are all quite involved with these elections and so I get enough of that at home!” Rosenbloom wrote.
—Margaret W. Ho contributed to the reporting of this story.
—Staff writer Alan J. Tabak can be reached at tabak@fas.harvard.edu.