Jan 13, 2017 |
Eleven St. Bonaventure University students will spend nine days in the nation’s capital as part of an academic seminar leading up to the Jan. 20 inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States.
The students represent a mix of majors — political science, biology, philosophy, journalism and mass communication, and counseling/education — and a mix of political parties. Accompanied by Dr. Danette Brickman, chair of the Department of Political Science at the university, the group leaves Saturday, Jan. 14, and returns Sunday, Jan. 22.
The students will explore the political process during a morning speaker series, which will cover topics such as presidential transitions, foreign and domestic affairs, global challenges for the next generation, and a behind-the-scenes look in the campaign trenches. In the afternoon, they’ll head to various museums and landmarks, including the Newseum and the new National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Students J.W. Cook and Keegan Miller will be introducing the panelists for the talk on presidential transitions that will be held at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. The speakers will be Bradley Kiley, who previously worked for the Clinton and Obama administrations and is now the chief operating officer of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and Timothy Kennedy, who previously worked for the Bush administration and is now the chaplain at the Washington Episcopal School in Bethesda, Md.
Tapping into the university’s vast alumni network will give the students the opportunity to meet and network with fellow Bonnies.
On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the group will be meeting with about a dozen SBU alums at the D.C. law office of Dick Penna, ’68. The next evening they will enjoy a reception at the National Press Club with alumnus Bob Dubill, ’58, a Pulitizer Prize-winning journalist and retired editor of USA Today.
The students will also connect with several alumni who accompanied Brickman to the capital for one of President Obama’s inaugurations.
“We will be meeting with Capt. T.J. Rosetti and Katie Reusch, who attended the 2009 Inauguration with me,” Brickman said. Reusch is a program instructor at Close Up, an education program that serves students and teachers through its Washington-based civic education programs and classroom resources. Rosetti is in the U.S. Army and is stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland.
They will also connect with Arin Liszka, who attended President Obama’s 2013 Inauguration with Brickman. Liszka is studying for her Master of Divinity Degree at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.
On Inauguration Day, the students will join thousands of other visitors on the National Mall to witness President Trump’s swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address.
Follow the students’ experiences via social media:
• Their blog can be found at https://bonniesfollowanewadministration.com
• Their Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/Bonnies-Follow-a-New-Administration-240215296381987/?ref=bookmarks
• They’ll be using the Twitter handle @DCBonnies17.
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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, we believe in the goodness of every person and in the ability of every person to do extraordinary things. St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. Named the #6 best college value in the North by U.S. News and World Report, we are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition.