Five UNC Charlotte students will be attending the two presidential nominating conventions this summer – one as an elected delegate and four through an academic program with the Washington Center.
Roman Green and Ashley Martin will be at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland, while Luisa Donoso, Richard Duane and Sebastian Feculak will attend the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia.
Feculak, a political science and economics major, is representing North Carolina as an elected delegate. During the past year, he assisted in building a grassroots organization in Charlotte to support Bernie Sanders. With a goal to represent Sanders’ “progressive values” at the convention, Feculak vied as a delegate in District 9. While not elected at the district level, he prevailed at the statewide convention.
“I’m hoping that out of this experience that I’m able to participate in the process that builds a stronger Democratic platform, and watch history be made,” said Feculak.
Green and Martin, a junior and senior, respectively, also expressed an interest in national politics. Through the University’s association with the Washington Center, they and Donoso, also a junior, and Duane, a rising sophomore, applied for the Washington Center’s Academic Seminars program, which provides participants an “inside perspective” on the presidential nominating conventions.
The academic seminars include presentations/panel discussions, small group meetings, fieldwork and participation in convention-related events and activities.
"The University was the Washington Center's academic partner during the 2012 Charlotte DNC. Their seminars allowed our students to learn from faculty and political leaders from around the country,” said Eric Heberlig, professor of political science and public administration. “The center arranged internships for our students with many nationally and internationally recognized organizations during the convention.”
Based upon the positive feedback from students who attended Washington Center seminars in 2012, UNC Charlotte decided to continue its partnership with the center and recruit University students who would be interested in participating at 2016 conventions, Heberlig added.
Martin, a business marketing and political science major, will be a volunteer on the RNC’s official Committee on Arrangements, which plans and manages the convention. This past summer, she interned with Rep. Mark Walker in Washington, D.C.
“I believe this experience (at the RNC) will provide insight, knowledge and skills that are unmatchable elsewhere,” said Martin. “The wide range of academic seminars and fieldwork responsibilities will provide real-life experience as to how national conventions operate, the workings of presidential politics and an inside look at political campaigns.”
A finance major in the University’s Business Honors Program, Green was involved with the campaign of Ohio Gov. John Kasich. “I was interested in attending the RNC, because I always have been fascinated by national politics, and this year is anything but ordinary. I wanted to witness the history of this baffling election year.”
Duane, the rising sophomore, has been interested in politics and activism for most of his life. As a computer science and political science major, he envisions using his programming and Web design knowledge to benefit a political campaign or other personal cause. As a middle school student, he began paying attention to politics “since that is where issues are intensely debated and decided.”
An anthropology and political science major, Donoso was motivated to attend this year’s DNC based upon Julian Castro’s keynote speech at the 2012 convention in Charlotte.
“Most of the work that I’ve done in the past is very local and grassroots, so I can’t imagine what it’s like to work on a political platform on a national level,” said Donoso. “More than anything, I’m excited for the fieldwork experience. I applied for media placement as my first preference and Host Committee as my second. But, the learning and experience you could gain from hands-on work in any placement is a once in a lifetime chance.”
Photo (inset) UNC Charlotte students participating in presidential nominating conventions (clockwise from upper left) Luisa Donoso, Richard Duane, Sebastian Feculak, Roman Green and Ashley Martin.