What would you do if you were president? This question drives the Presidential Address Organization, a new Wesleyan group that will host a mock presidential debate on Jan. 21.
Event participants will act as presidential candidates and present speeches expressing their vision for America to the Wesleyan community. Participation in the event is open to all students, regardless of class year, citizenship status, or political affiliation. So far, four students have signed up to present speeches.
Ingram Weber ’06, the organizer of the new group, has expressed his determination to have a variety of interests and positions represented at the forum.
“We want to get as many different people as possible to show their vision for where the country should go,” Weber said. While Weber welcomes government majors and political pundits, he also wants to extend an invitation to students who are not heavily involved in the political process.
Mike Goodman ’05, who may deliver a speech at the mock-debate, is fond of Weber’s idea.
“People sometimes address issues from their own personal stand-point, rather from a broader perspective,” Goodman said. “As a politician, you have to see issues with a broader perspective.”
Even though students giving speeches will speak as politicians, they will not represent any specific political party, Weber said. Students will simply be representing themselves and the issues they view as integral to the development of America in upcoming years.
The purpose of this event is for students to be able to express their own opinions instead of those formulated by a certain interest group.
“While watching the primaries, I noticed that speakers are limited in the ways they can communicate their ideas,” Weber said.
Participants will need to make sure their speeches are aimed at how the country as a whole will be influenced by the arguments they present to the audience.
“I don’t want people to assume they can just appeal to far left views without regard to how these views will affect the rest of the country,” Weber said.
Taking the perspective of a presidential candidate, he thinks, will allow students to advocate their views and relate them to the American public.
“Anyone can say what they think, but it’s a lot harder to make your vision inspiring, to convince people,” he said.
While there is no specific political goal of the event, Weber seemed to suggest that the forum might be used as an impetus for further political action.
Weber would like to get more people involved for the Jan. 21 event. The only requirement, he said, is that students have a clear idea of what they want.
“You are articulating a vision for what the critical issues in the United States are right now.”
For those interested in delivering a speech at the mock-debate event on Jan. 21, contact Ingram Weber iweber@wesleyan.edu.
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