STUDENTS INVESTIGATE CAMPAIGNS
FOR EAGLETON STUDY
March 10, 2000, Bloomfield, NJ -- Eight Bloomfield College students got an inside look at the political process recently by researching New Jersey’s Congressional campaigns for an Eagleton Institute study.
Students Sean Hughes, Janelle Ryan, Nadia Tyus, Julia DeBose, David Harris, Madelynn Walker, Marcus Santos, and Stephanie McGugan evaluated the quality of the campaigns in the 7th District race between Robert Franks and Maryanne Connelly, and the 8th District race between William Pascrell and Matthew Kirnan. Under the direction of Doug Hedli, assistant director of Bloomfield College’s Center for Adult Learning, the students examined campaign materials, newspaper and television coverage, and accessibility of information.
The study found that the 1998 Congressional races were mainly free of nasty attacks and were reasonably well-covered by the media. However, campaigning did not occur often enough to produce real “democratic discussion.” In districts without competitive races, citizens had little or no opportunity to learn about the candidates or their positions on the issues.
“The students actually found something they weren’t expecting,” said Hedli. “There wasn’t a lot of negative advertising, and the reason for that is that in the state of New Jersey there are no longer competitive races. Most campaigns are decided before people get a chance to vote. Candidates can afford to run a clean race because often there is no race.”
The findings have been published in several New Jersey newspapers including The Home News Tribune and The Trenton Times.
“Ingrid Reed (director of the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University) was very impressed by our students’ work,” said Hedli. “I have a feeling we’ll be working with Eagleton again - perhaps on the presidential election.”
The students also found the project to be a rewarding experience. “Working with the Eagleton Institute was a real charge; it gave me a lot of inspiration,” said Julie DeBose, a criminal justice major. “ I feel like I want to get out there and campaign.”
“It was really beneficial for me. I had never done anything like that before, and it helped me understand how the process works,” said Nadia Tyus, a political science major.
For other students, working for the Eagleton Institute was a way to enhance an already-impressive resumé.
Senior Sean Hughes, who helped arrange the students’ participation, has worked on campaigns for Matthew Kirnan, William Martini and Robert Franks. “Sean is one of our political animals,” said Hedli. “He and Ingrid Reed really started the ball rolling on this project.”
“It was a lot of fun,” said Hughes. “Studying the campaign materials made me realize how many ways there are to get your message out there, and how precise you have to be when you say things.”
For recent Bloomfield College graduate David Harris, the Eagleton study was a great way to stay active with local government before applying to graduate school in political science.
“Whenever there is something that has to do with politics, I’m always there. I enjoy coming back to campus to exchange ideas with Doug Hedli,” said Harris, who hopes to compare international political systems as his next project.
“For most of the students, politics is going to be their life. The Eagleton study really got them involved and got their names out there. It’s a great way to get started,” said Hedli.
