Civics Lessons Learned at UCSD Election Night "Political Party"

By Barry Jagoda I November 14, 2005

In live television interview Professor Gary Jacobson left is interviewed by NBC reporter Artie Ojeda who talked also with Assistant Professor Thad Kousser right.

The long statewide and San Diego city election season came to an end late Tuesday night at UCSD with several hundred students, staff and community members joining with experts from the department of political science to usher in voting results with accompanying analysis and live television coverage.

"UCSD Election Night 2005: A Political Party" took over the Great Hall in Eleanor Roosevelt College for three hours of panel presentations, small group discussions and monitoring of voting returns on a big screen TV and through direct computer connection to the Registrar of Voters Web site. The idea was to understand what had happened on election day and to have a chance to reflect on how students and others might get involved in 2006 and beyond.

L to R Prof Thad Kousser and Lead Director Bill Howe applaud winner of mock-ballot at UCSD Election Night

The event was organized primarily by Thad Kousser, assistant professor of political science, a specialist on California politics, along with Bill Howe, director of the Division of Student Affairs Lead Center. They had assistance from a number of student organizations as well as sponsorship by the department of political science, Eleanor Roosevelt College, the Council of Provosts and the Office of Government and Community Affairs.

The evening began with an introduction by Professor Gary Cox, chair of the department of political science, who introduced professors Sam Popkin and Gary Jacobson, both nationally known election and campaign experts, who shared microphones with UCSD Guardian pundits Vlad Kogan and Ian Port to talk about why Donna Frye seemed to be falling behind and why Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's statewide ballot propositions seemed to be going down.

L to R, Professor Sam Popkin, Guardian journalists Vlad Kogan and Ian Port and Professor Gary Cox speak at UCSD Election Night.

The mostly student audience posed dozens of questions to the panelists and subsequently divided up for smaller group discussions on a variety of election topics. They also enjoyed the snacks and drinks providing by the evening's sponsors.

Among those present was NBC/Channel 7 reporter Artie Ojeda, who broadcast live throughout the evening from the UCSD event. Also on hand was Will Carless, a reporter from Voice of San Diego, a Web news publication , who offered his readers a running commentary on the UCSD action, including the results of a mock election ballot. Unlike outside in the real world, Donna Frye handily won the UCSD tabulation. But, as the evening was concluding, it become apparent that Jerry Sanders would be San Diego's new mayor while Gov. Schwarzenegger would have to look to another election year to find victory. Regardless of winners and losers, it was apparent that a new UCSD tradition had been established with organizers already thinking of future elections and future election night festivities.