2008 Woodie Awards
Students head north to campaign
Andy McDonough
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Campus News
Fourteen Quinnipiac University students traded in their books for campaign posters this winter break and actively participated in the New Hampshire presidential primary.
A fall semester course titled "Honors Presidential Elections and Campaigns" mixed lectures with field work to teach students. Associate Professor of Political Science Scott McLean taught the course.
The students first traveled to New Hampshire in September and November before returning in early January. The primary, which took place on Jan. 8, was won by Senator Hillary Clinton, on the Democratic side, and by Senator John McCain, on the Republican side.
"They loved every minute of it," McLean said.
McLean hoped the students would learn skills relating to advocating in public life, the necessary strategies in working on grassroots campaign, knowledge about national issues and the history of the election process.
He believes his students achieved those goals.
"Practicing politics in addition to learning it is definitely essential to mastering it," sophomore political science major Mark Bouchard said.
In witnessing the New Hampshire primaries first hand, the students experienced an important phase of the election.
"They were blown away at how energized it got," McLean said.
The students each worked on campaigns of different candidates. Their work included canvassing, phone banks and making signs.
Senior Julie Hargreaves and sophomore Kailey Maher worked on Mitt Romney's advance team.
Senior Jenielle Alonso is currently working on Rudy Giuliani's campaign in Florida.
"Some of them really got some serious responsibilities in doing this," McLean said.
The students did encounter some obstacles.
Climate presented the most blatant problem. "We braved the tundra that is New Hampshire," Bouchard said.
Junior history major Nicole Colomonico also felt the cold.
"Freezing, really, really cold," she said.
A fall semester course titled "Honors Presidential Elections and Campaigns" mixed lectures with field work to teach students. Associate Professor of Political Science Scott McLean taught the course.
The students first traveled to New Hampshire in September and November before returning in early January. The primary, which took place on Jan. 8, was won by Senator Hillary Clinton, on the Democratic side, and by Senator John McCain, on the Republican side.
"They loved every minute of it," McLean said.
McLean hoped the students would learn skills relating to advocating in public life, the necessary strategies in working on grassroots campaign, knowledge about national issues and the history of the election process.
He believes his students achieved those goals.
"Practicing politics in addition to learning it is definitely essential to mastering it," sophomore political science major Mark Bouchard said.
In witnessing the New Hampshire primaries first hand, the students experienced an important phase of the election.
"They were blown away at how energized it got," McLean said.
The students each worked on campaigns of different candidates. Their work included canvassing, phone banks and making signs.
Senior Julie Hargreaves and sophomore Kailey Maher worked on Mitt Romney's advance team.
Senior Jenielle Alonso is currently working on Rudy Giuliani's campaign in Florida.
"Some of them really got some serious responsibilities in doing this," McLean said.
The students did encounter some obstacles.
Climate presented the most blatant problem. "We braved the tundra that is New Hampshire," Bouchard said.
Junior history major Nicole Colomonico also felt the cold.
"Freezing, really, really cold," she said.
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