Rock the Vote

To jump-start the program, Rock the Vote came to campus on September 23, noon to 5:00 p.m. Rock the Vote is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to motivating and registering young people to vote. The Rock the Vote tour bus traveled to campuses throughout the country this fall. The event featured several bands, Trinity University student and political speakers (including two congressmen), information tables, food, and voter registration. Over 250 students registered to vote at this event.

The Trinity Hill Gang

The “Gang,” modeled after the CNN “Capitol Hill Gang,” featured three faculty members on October 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Heidi Lounge. Dr. Moya Ball (Speech Communication), Dr. Tucker Gibson (Political Science), and Dr. Frank Harrison (Speech) discussed and debated the 2000 election to a crowd of over 50 students.

Trinity Spins

An average of 30 students watched the debates in a residence hall lounge with members of the faculty. Immediately following the debates the TVs were turned off and panels of professors and students gave their own “spin” on the events. The faculty members on the panels were from a variety of departments including History, Health Care Administration, Economics, and Political Science.

Teach Ins

Tuesday, September 19 - Trinity Elects 2000 on the Environment: America On Fire – Heidi Lounge

The politics of fire, a presentation and discussion lead by Dr. Char Miller, professor of history.

Wednesday, October 18 - Trinity Elects 2000 on International Issues - Heidi Lounge

A conversation about the international issues in the election with Dr. Mary Ann Tetreault, distinguished professor of international affairs.

Thursday, October 26 - Trinity Elects 2000 on the Media – Prassel Hall Atrium

News, coverage, advertising: sorting it out - a panel with Dr. Harry Haines, associate professor of communication, Dr. Moya Ball, associate professor of speech communication, Dr. David Crockett, assistant professor of political science, and Susie Phillips Gonzalez, assistant director of public relations/news & information.

Wednesday, November 1 - Trinity Elects 2000 on Religion - Heidi Lounge

A discussion on the role of religion in this year’s election moderated by Dr. Edward Curtis, professor of religion.

Thursday, November 16 - Trinity Elects 2000: the Aftermath - Coates University Center Tigers’ Den

A discussion about the election results and controversies lead by Dr. David Crockett and Dr. Tucker Gibson, both from Political Science. Officers from the College Republicans and Democrats were also on the panel.

Tiger TV Films

The Trinity Activities Council selected politically oriented films to show on the campus closed circuit station, Tiger TV, during the fall. Among the titles, through Residence Life Cinema, were The Candidate, Primary Colors, An American President, and Dave.

Tiger Politics

In conjunction with Trinity Elects 2000, hosts of "Tiger Politics" invites students to watch and call-in to this live TigerTV talk show every Thursday from 8:00p.m. to 9:00p.m.

Special Election Night Dinner

Tuesday, November 7: several faculty members were on hand with students for a special pre-election dinner, followed by a program.

Trinity Election Night Parties

A celebratory election night party sponsored by Political Science and Residential Life, was held in the Heidi Lounge. A reporter from the local Fox affiliate broadcast a live shot at that location. Three televisions were set-up as students and faculty watched different broadcasts waiting for election results. Approximately 50 – 100 people stopped in throughout the night.
In addition, nearly 30 students were assembled to give their reactions to the election results on the local NBC affiliate, KMOL. The station cut in on live election coverage throughout the evening to hear the students’ opinions.

Trinity Elects Theme Floor

Over 30 first year students signed up to live on this floor where students have essentially have eaten, drank, and breathed politics all year long. Under the leadership of Resident Assistant (and Political Science major) Michael Boyd, these students participated in many programs to discuss the political process.

The residents enjoyed several picnics with faculty members and in September were treated to: “Why I’ll vote the way I’m going to vote…” a debate/discussion between the conservative and liberal political science faculty members Dr. David Crockett and Dr. John Hermann.

In addition, the students on the floor and the faculty members continue to be part of an electronic distribution list to post opinions about the election, to announce events, and to showcase articles or Internet sites of interest.

The posting policy of the University was waived to allow these students to post any politically oriented placards, signs or messages in their windows and on exterior doors and walls.

All students on the third floor of Herndon (and faculty members listed below) received t-shirts upon move-in that read: “A third party – Herndon Hall, Trinity Elects 2000.”

Local affiliates from Fox and ABC did stories about this floor on their news programs and the floor was discussed on Texas Public Radio on two occasions and covered in the Dallas Morning News and San Antonio Express News, and mentioned in the New York Times magazine.

Updated December 4, 2000 by the Office of Public Relations