Spring Break
Students look to energize politics on campus
Issue date: 3/13/08
Hopkins may play host to the "single largest celebration of American politics on any college campus" this fall, according to the coordinators of Hopkins Engaged 2008.
The planners, freshman class president Dan Teran and senator for finance Justin Waite hope the event, which is still in its initial planning stages, will initiate collaboration within campus political groups.
According to their proposal, the event itself could potentially bring in a popular band, high caliber political speakers and a variety of national political groups.
Teran hopes too see Hopkins Engaged as a focal point for Fall Festival.
Teran Waite co-authored a proposal for the event to be initiated this fall.
"The idea of Hopkins Engaged was to create an event to catalyze political activity and to help curb the political apathy that exists on this campus," he said. Teran believes that Hopkins Engaged has the potential to be the single-largest celebration of American politics on any college campus because of the breadth of its focus.
The proposal emphasizes the need for an institution like Hopkins to foster political enthusiasm amongst its students.
"Although our reputation as strictly research oriented may be inaccurate, the political apathy demonstrated by our student body reinforces this widely accepted notion," the proposal stated.
A steering committee, including representatives from several student groups, will be created to guide and plan events for Hopkins Engaged.
"This is the most comprehensive proposal I've seen in terms of getting a larger number of people involved," said Paula Burger, dean of undergraduate studies and vice provost. "It is a good test case of whether or not we can have the kind of programming that gets various groups working together on a larger project. Most organizations have small discrete activities, but this is taking a handful of activities and making bigger things."
According to Teran, the effort could be funded through the Hopkins Organization for Programming, the Council, the administration, Burger's office, FallFest's planning committee and the alumni groups, though the budget is uncertain since the steering committee will help determine the budget.
The planners, freshman class president Dan Teran and senator for finance Justin Waite hope the event, which is still in its initial planning stages, will initiate collaboration within campus political groups.
According to their proposal, the event itself could potentially bring in a popular band, high caliber political speakers and a variety of national political groups.
Teran hopes too see Hopkins Engaged as a focal point for Fall Festival.
Teran Waite co-authored a proposal for the event to be initiated this fall.
"The idea of Hopkins Engaged was to create an event to catalyze political activity and to help curb the political apathy that exists on this campus," he said. Teran believes that Hopkins Engaged has the potential to be the single-largest celebration of American politics on any college campus because of the breadth of its focus.
The proposal emphasizes the need for an institution like Hopkins to foster political enthusiasm amongst its students.
"Although our reputation as strictly research oriented may be inaccurate, the political apathy demonstrated by our student body reinforces this widely accepted notion," the proposal stated.
A steering committee, including representatives from several student groups, will be created to guide and plan events for Hopkins Engaged.
"This is the most comprehensive proposal I've seen in terms of getting a larger number of people involved," said Paula Burger, dean of undergraduate studies and vice provost. "It is a good test case of whether or not we can have the kind of programming that gets various groups working together on a larger project. Most organizations have small discrete activities, but this is taking a handful of activities and making bigger things."
According to Teran, the effort could be funded through the Hopkins Organization for Programming, the Council, the administration, Burger's office, FallFest's planning committee and the alumni groups, though the budget is uncertain since the steering committee will help determine the budget.
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