Students Featured on C-SPAN

By COLLEEN HUBER

The Virginia Regional Express took nine University of Mary Washington students to Washington D.C on the morning of Oct. 22 to participate in a live C-SPAN broadcast.

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and international affairs, teaches the Political Parties and Elections in America and Research and Writing in Political Science classes that the students are in.

The students spent the morning on Capital Hill where they met with five UMW graduates, Jessica Paquette, Jamie Gahun, Krista Carman, Lauren Decot and Nick DeSarno for an alumni panel to discuss the transition from graduation to working in politics in the real world, according to Farnsworth.

“We had five recent graduates of UMW now working in D.C. discuss making the transition from college to the professional world,” said Farnsworth.

“The alumni panel was really helpful,” said senior political science major Erica O’Brien. “They told us what to put on resumes and the importance of getting internships in the Hill.”

After the alumni panel, the students toured the Capital. They then talked with Brian Lamb, the founder of C-SPAN, about politics in the media. The students also got the chance to briefly talk with Steven Scully, senior executive producer and political editor for C-SPAN, before the broadcast.

At 3:15 p.m., the students attended the live broadcast at the Washington Classroom that previewed the presidential debate later that night.

Students from George Mason University, Perdue University and the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars also attended the broadcast.

“I though it was great hearing from different students,” said O’Brien.

Rob Richie, executive director of fairvote.org, James Hohmann, national political reporter for POLITICO and Janet Brown, executive director of commission of presidential debates, were all featured on the broadcast for students to ask questions.

“The guests answered the questions very well and were very helpful,” said O’Brien.

The purpose of the day was for students to get a sense of careers in politics and the media aspect of politics.

“It blended academic aspects of American politics with real world politics,” said Farnsworth.

The broadcast is available for viewing on the C-SPAN website.