Should America have open talks with adversarial nations? What can be done to assuage the U.S. health care and economic crises? Does America need to “drill, baby, drill”?
With the vote for president two weeks away, the ETSU students and community will have a chance to hear from local political party representatives on the issues surrounding the presidential election.
The ETSU George W. Kelly Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will sponsor a political forum open to students, faculty, staff and the public at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in ETSU’s Ball Hall auditorium. A panel of officials representing the Democratic and Republican parties will answer questions put together by SPJ members on five key topics of the presidential election: health care, foreign relations, the economy, energy and the Biden vs. Palin debate.
“As journalists, we think it is important to have something at ETSU where students and faculty can get a close-up view of what is going on,” said Jennifer White, president of the ETSU chapter of the SPJ. “This is something close to home where we can hear student voices and local party member voices, not just a debate on TV.”
Panel members will include president of the ETSU College Democrats Jordan Huffman; a representative from the College Republicans; representative from the Washington County Democratic Party Tom Jessee; and chair of the Washington County Republican Party Ethan Flynn. Other representatives may join these panelists, White said. “We are hoping to also have at least one non-mainstream party represented at the forum, as well,” she said. “We are continuing to work on that to make sure as many views as possible are represented.”
East Tennessean editor, Erwin Record reporter and journalism major Eileen Rush will moderate the forum.
The event should present myriad sides of some of the most-debated issues in the race that next month pits Senators Barack Obama and John McCain. “I hope students can develop their opinions and thoughts,” said Flynn, who was the 2004-2005 Student Government Association president. “I hope they come in open-minded and leave more educated on the issues.”
There will be a short period following the moderator’s questions when audience members can pose their own questions to the panel members.
The forum is free and open to the public. For information, contact Jennifer White at zjlw76@goldmail.etsu.edu.

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