FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 5, 2004

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119. lisa.lacher@drake.edu

DRAKE PROF TO SPEAK ON REVITALIZING THE ELECTION PROCESS

Arthur B. Sanders, professor of politics and director of the Honors Program at Drake University, will give the annual Luther W. Stalnaker Lecture at Drake on Tuesday, Oct. 12. The lecture is titled “Reclaiming Control: Revitalizing the Election Process.”

The event, which is free and open to the public, will start at 7 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main, 25th Street and University Avenue.

“Over the past 40 years we have seen our electoral process slowly slip away from the voting public,” Sanders said. “The…secular trends [exhibited in elections] are the result of the interaction between the changing technological and media environment that dominate campaigns and political rules and institutions. Reversing these trends will require an understanding of how these developments are shaping our elections and figuring out ways to adapt our rules, institutions and technologies to create a more citizen-friendly electoral environment.”

A member of the Drake faculty since 1990, Sanders teaches courses in American politics, American elections, public opinion, media and politics, political parties and interest groups and women and politics. He received his bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College and his Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Sanders has conducted research about the workings of American democracy. He has also published numerous articles in professional journals and three books. Sanders is currently involved in a national project studying how candidates and groups allocate resources in campaigns. He is one of several experts who have contributed to a newly published book titled "Lights, Camera, Campaign!" edited by David Schultz of Hamline University. Sanders' chapter is titled "Creating Effective Political Ads." In addition, Sanders is working on finishing his book on the presidential election process to be published in early 2007.

Sander’s lecture will be the 20th of the series at Drake honoring the memory of Luther W. Stalnaker, dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 1940 to 1954. This series is a joint undertaking of the College of Arts and Sciences and its emeriti faculty. For more information, call (515) 271-3939.

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