Election Center
Political Sources


Phone: 616-331-2221
Brian J. Bowe
boweb@gvsu.edu
GVSU Expert Sources

President-elect Barack Obama is getting reaction from both sides of the aisle as he selects his Cabinet members and economic team while his family prepares to move into the White House. Grand Valley State University has experts available for comment.

Browse the topics at left for some of our top experts. For topics not listed or assistance in scheduling interviews, contact News and Information Services at (616) 331-2221.
• January 16: President George W. Bush gave his farewell address to the nation last night. Erika King, professor of political science, commented on the speech. Overall, King says the war on terror will define Bush's presidency, and she says President Bush will be remembered favorably for his actions surrounding Sept. 11 (audio clip). King says President Bush will not be remembered favorably for the war in Iraq (audio clip). She adds that Bush is leaving office with a mixed record and, while he has low approval ratings, he will not be remembered as one of the worst presidents (audio clip). King says as we look toward Barack Obama's inauguration, our country will be unified during this historic moment. Franklin Roosevelt established the "what can be accomplished in 100-days" expectation and Obama will face a challenge with the struggling economy.

• Gleaves Whitney interviewed on Bush legacy
Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley, was interviewed about President Bush's legacy on WWJ radio in Detroit. That interview can be heard here. He was also quoted on the Fox News Web site for a smilar story, which can be read here.

• GVSU Inauguration event moved to Fieldhouse
To accommodate a larger crowd, Grand Valley's event to mark the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama has been moved to the Fieldhouse Arena.

“America United: A Grand Valley Celebration” will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20. Remarks will be given by President Thomas J. Haas; Jeanne Arnold, vice president for Inclusion and Equity; Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies; and faculty members Mark Richards and Louis Moore.

A live Webcast of Grand Valley speakers and a link to the inauguration will be available at www.gvsu.edu.

Locations will be set up for students, faculty and staff members to watch the day’s events. Along with the Fieldhouse Arena, sites are as follows:
• Eberhard Center, Grand Rapids Press Teleconference Auditorium;
• DeVos Center, room 136 E;
• Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Hager Auditorium;
• Holland Meijer Campus, room 104;
• Muskegon Regional Center, room 1100;
• Traverse City University Center, rooms 215 and 217.

For more information about the event, contact the Office of Inclusion and Equity at (616) 331-3296.


Previous audio and video clips are archived here

Spotlight

Mark Richards

Mark Richards
Mark Richards is chair of Grand Valley's Political Science department and an expert in constitutional law.

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Story Tip

  • Advertising and Public Relations professor Tim Penning can talk about the differences between public relations and spin. He said "In the Obama-McCain, both are trying to distance themselves from their parties. It will be interesting to see if their general campaigns will pander to self interest or draw people into two-way dialogue about what's best for society."
 

 
  Last Modified Date: January 16, 2009
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