Ohio Wesleyan University to Hold 2012 Republican Mock Presidential Convention
DELAWARE, OHIO – Ohio Wesleyan University students will create a GOP Party platform and select presidential and vice presidential candidates to square off against incumbent President Barack Obama during the university’s 2012 Republican Mock Presidential Convention. The two-day event, which simulates a national nominating convention, will take place Feb. 10-11 in Gray Chapel inside University Hall, 61 S. Sandusky St.
This year’s convention will kick off at 4 p.m. Feb. 10 with opening ceremonies and platform debates. It is expected to conclude at noon Feb. 11. A tentative schedule of events is below, and the public is invited to attend.
Because the event always features the party out of the White House, the 2012 Mock Convention will focus on the Republican race. The theme of this year’s convention is “Right Party, Right Time.”
Just like its national Republican and Democratic counterparts, Ohio Wesleyan’s Mock Convention will include high-energy party platform debates and delegate voting to determine the party’s nominees for president and vice president.
Joan McLean, Ph.D., politics and government professor and Mock Convention faculty adviser, said the event provides a unique learning experience for students.
“In the highly partisan national climate, it is refreshing to see students, regardless of partisan leanings, working together to organize the convention,” said McLean, who previously worked on two U.S. presidential campaigns and helped to shape Geraldine Ferraro’s bid for the vice presidency in 1984. “Besides doing all the logistical planning, they are studying the issues and the candidates’ positions so they can vigorously debate them on the convention floor.”
Ohio Wesleyan held its first Mock Convention in 1884 and since 1920 has conducted the event during nearly every presidential election. Between 300 and 400 students and community members typically participate in the free event.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS*
FRIDAY, FEB. 10
4 p.m. – Call to order by Delaware County Treasurer Jon Peterson, a 1976 Ohio Wesleyan graduate, and opening ceremonies 4:30 p.m. – Installation of convention chair 4:40 p.m. – Report on rules and credentials 4:50 p.m. – Rules and credentials debate 5:10 p.m. – Remarks from U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Columbus) 5:30-7 p.m. – Dinner break 7 p.m. – Ohio Wesleyan student-made videos 7:10 p.m. – Musical presentation 7:20 p.m. – Remarks by Ohio House Speaker Rep. William Batchelder (R-Medina), a 1964 Ohio Wesleyan graduate 7:30 p.m. – Report on platform 7:40 p.m. – Platform debate beginsSATURDAY, FEB. 11
9 a.m. – Call to order and opening ceremonies 10 a.m. – Nominating and balloting for presidential and vice presidential candidates 11 a.m. – Presentation of awards 11:30 a.m. – Benediction and adjournment*Times and order subject to change
For more information about Ohio Wesleyan’s Mock Convention, visit http://mock2012.owu.edu online, http://www.facebook.com/OWUMockConvention on Facebook, or @owumock on Twitter.
Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier small, private universities, with more than 90 undergraduate majors, sequences, and courses of study, and 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Located in Delaware, Ohio, just minutes north of Ohio’s capital and largest city, Columbus, the university combines a globally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities that translate classroom theory into real-world practice. OWU’s close-knit community of 1,850 students represents 47 states and 57 countries. Ohio Wesleyan was named to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with distinction, is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” and is included on the “best colleges” lists of U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Learn more at www.owu.edu.