Cottey event to focus on local and national political processes

LaDuke

Special to the Daily Mail

"The Image of Democracy Itself," a day-long event celebrating this political season at Cottey College, will offer a feast of information and discussion on local, national, and international issues, as well as delicious food and fellowship.

Registrants will begin the day at 9 a.m. with a continental breakfast. At 9:30 a.m., Kara Belew, a young history teacher from Wichita, will present an overview of her two fascinating races for Kansas state representative. She ran in 2002 as a Democrat and in 2004 as a moderate Republican. Belew will also take questions from the audience.

A remembrance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will take place at 10:15, featuring a reading by actresses Tanya Jones, Brianne Fulton and Kay Kuhlmann. Jones will portray a real-life architect whose office was in the World Trade Center.

Attendees may register to vote at 11 o'clock, before heading to lunch at Cottey's Raney Dining Room. The afternoon session kicks off at 1 p.m., with a political television ad competition. A prize of $50 will be awarded to the best individual or team entry as determined by a vote of the audience.

Dr. Angela Firkus, Cottey history professor, will conduct a DebateWatch workshop from 2 to 2:45, teaching methods that can be put to use in organizing small groups to effectively experience the upcoming presidential debates.

Candidates for the offices of Vernon County Sheriff, Public Administrator, County Commissioner, and Missouri State Representative will appear in a Candidate Forum beginning at 3 p.m. Each candidate is invited to make a brief opening statement. Prepared questions will be posed to each set of candidates by a non-partisan three-person panel. As time allows, candidates will respond to questions from the audience.

The 4:30-5:30 p.m. session is a forum titled American Power and Global Security. Panelists are Winona LaDuke, 1996 and 2000 Green Party vice-presidential candidate, and Dr. Ann Wyman, International Affairs scholar. Dr. Steve Wagner, of Missouri Southern State University, will moderate the discussion, followed by questions from the audience.

After a dinner break, the audience will hear from representatives of the Kerry, Bush, and Nader campaigns. The day's non-partisan keynote speech will be delivered by LaDuke, beginning at 8 p.m.

All morning sessions take place in the Rubie Burton Academic Center on College Street. Enter through the door on the southwest end of the building. Events move to the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts, Tower and Austin Streets, at 3 p.m.

Cost for the entire symposium is $15, which includes lunch, dinner, and the keynote speech. Area students may attend all events and lunch for $8.

Lower prices that exclude dinner, as well as student scholarships, are available by calling (417) 667-8181, ext. 2204, by Friday, Sept. 10. CLASS ticket holders pay only for meals.

The 3 p.m. Candidate Forum is open to the public without charge, and all citizens are urged to attend.

"The Image of Democracy Itself" is coordinated by the Helen and George Washburn Center for Women's Leadership. Additional sponsors include the Nevada branch of American Association of University Women, the Nevada chapter of Soroptimist International, and the United Nations Foundation. Major funding is provided by the Marjorie W. Smith Leadership Seminar Fund at Cottey College, established in 1999 by Washington State Chapter in memory of Marjorie W. Smith, president of International Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, 1979-1981, and president of Washington State Chapter, 1959-1960.

The earnings from this fund are used to fund leadership seminars in conjunction with Cottey's Center for Women's Leadership.