UNO Engages Students, Community for 2012 Elections

by Charley Reed

As the rest of the country turns to the national news to keep up to date on the 2012 elections, the University of Nebraska at Omaha is working with its community partners, students, faculty and staff to provide information and learning experiences for all involved.

- Starting in August, the UNO Criss Library has been teaming with NET News on a project that that asks voters to record their views on this year’s issues, campaigns and candidates. Through the "Voter Voices" project, NET will gather opinions from Nebraska voters through Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 2 and share voters’ views on television, radio and the web throughout the rest of the campaign and beyond. Read more.

- On Oct. 3, the UNO School of Communication and the Office of Academic and Student Affairs sponsor the free, non-partisan event, called DebateWatch. DebateWatch, a voter education program of the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), brings the public together to watch and discuss the televised debates. UNO has held DebateWatch events on campus for the last three presidential elections. Read more.

A link to Dr. Jeremy Lipschultz's blog entry about the 2008 DebateWatch.

- Throughout the month of October, School of Communication students will prep for the newest entry in the Omaha News' award-winning Election Night coverage of national and local races. For most election cycles, including primary elections, students will prepair, produce and run a several-hour long special news program, featuring on-site reporting of local candidates, live updates and in-studio interviews with faculty experts, that is broadcast on The Knowledge Network, which is accessible throughout much of eastern Nebraska.

- The Chancellor's Comission on the Status of Women has been helping register voters on campus throughout the Fall 2012 semester, starting in September and running through mid-October.

UNO Faculty in the News About 2012 Politics and the Election:

Landow, UNL Professor Quoted by New York Times
Paul Landow, assistant professor of political science, was quoted along with Jon Hibbing, professor of political science at UNL, about the chances of Nebraska's second congressional district, and single electoral vote, going to Barack Obama in this year's election. Obama received the district's electoral vote in 2008, the first time a Democrat had received a vote from Nebraska in several decades.

Adkins Talks Neb. Second District and 2012 Election
Political Science Chair Randy Adkins was featured in the Omaha World-Herald Tuesday, Sept. 25 about the role of Nebraska's second district in this year's election.

Adkins Interviewed on DNC
Political Science Chair Randy Adkins was featured in the Omaha World-Herald Tuesday, Sept. 4, about this week's Democratic National Convention in North Carolina. Adkins predicts that the president will try to compare Republican nominee Mitt Romney to former president George W. Bush during the event.

Adkins on All Things Considered
Randy Adkins, political science, was interviewed by NPR for All Things Considered on Monday, Aug. 6 about July's campaign fundraising numbers for President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney.

Landow Quoted in Kearney Hub
Paul Landow, political science, was quoted in last week's Kearney Hub about Nebraska's Speaker of the Legislator, Mike Flood, making a run for governor in the next election.

Sam Walker Writes for Huffington Post
Sam Walker, professor emeritus for criminology and criminal justice, published a blog post for the Huffington Post on Thursday, Aug. 2. The post addressed President Barack Obama's stance on gun control.

Carol Ebdon Discusses Mayoral Pay Raises
Carol Ebdon, public administration, was quoted in the Omaha World-Herald and a guest on the Crash Davis Show on KFAB Thursday, Aug. 2. In both instances, Ebdon discussed the legalities of Mayor Jim Suttle's recent raises to his staff.

Landow Quoted in Omaha World-Herald
Paul Landow, professor of political science and former mayor Mike Fahey's chief of staff, was quoted in an Omaha World-Herald story Tuesday about Mayor Jim Suttle's recently-announced pay increases for nine key city administrators. Landow commented on the political ramifications of the decision during an election year.

Landow Talks Chambers, Council
Paul Landow, political science, was quoted in the Omaha World-Herald about the Nebraska legislature race between Brenda Council and Ernie Chambers.

Adkins Talks Deb Fischer Victory
Randy Adkins, political science, was quoted in Thursday’s Omaha World-Herald about Deb Fischer’s win in the Tuesday primaries; the story was also picked up by Grand Island Independent. Adkins was also featured in the World-Herald, giving his pre-primary analysis.

Landow Addresses Terry in Times-Picayune
Paul Landow, political science, was quoted in an AP story picked up by the New Orleans Times-Picayune about Rep. Lee Terry’s battle for Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district.