Professor brings Democratic Convention to students

By Max Orenstein
Collegian Editor
August 28, 2008

The right wall of her office in Olney Hall is a photographic account of the Democratic Party- a collage of some of the most recognizable faces spanning the last two decades of American politics. Under her diplomas hang pictures of her daughter being held by former vice-president Al Gore, hugged by former Sen John Edwards (D-N.C.) and, in another, exchanging high-fives with Sen John Kerry (D-Mass.). The one with the unmistakable white hair? That’s her and former President Bill Clinton. But she really swells with pride at the mention of the two photographs taken with Sen Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Mary Ellen Balchunis-Harris, professor of political science, attended the Democratic National Convention this week in Denver. For the first time in her teaching career, she planned part of her curriculum around her first-hand account of the convention, streaming video from the convention floor to the student union’s ballroom. Her work culminated in a live videoconference that took place at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

“I [wanted] to capture what no one will be able to see—the behind-the-scenes reality,” she said.

With the help of Jeff Pasternak, senior engineer of Multimedia Services, Balchunis-Harris shot interviews and speeches of major players in the Democratic Party using a digital video recording device. They wanted to keep up with the evolving face of the

media’s political coverage, especially after the blogging community was allowed on the convention floor for the first time in 2004 and the Obama campaign’s revolutionary utilization of social networking in the current election. “We’re trying to evolve technology…to move ahead and provide students with relevant resource material,” Pasternak said.

Matt Stoltz, a junior in Balchunis-Harris’ Political Science 151 class, was impressed by his professor’s dedication. “It makes you feel as though it’s a one-on-one with CNN,” he said. “The video conference was different but refreshing.”

Balchunis-Harris is also finding some bi-partisan support on campus. Kevin Gledhill, senior member of the Young Republicans, praised her endeavor. “I’m all for it,” Gledhill said. “I think it’s great that a political science professor is providing an up-close look at a national convention.”

This is the first time that Balchunis-Harris took a direct approach in bringing the convention to her students, but she is no stranger to the Democratic Party. Having attended the 1992 and 1996 conventions as a delegate from Delaware County and the 2000 convention as an alternate delegate for Gore, Governor Ed Rendell (D-Pa.) appointed Balchunis-Harris to the Platform Committee.

There’s nothing private about her political leanings. Citing a strong record of public service, a superior healthcare plan and an advantage in experience, Balchunis-Harris publicly supported Senator Clinton over Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) during the bitter Democratic primary. Following Clinton’s defeat, Balchunis-Harris fell in line to support Obama in his general election matchup with Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Other Clinton supporters haven’t been so enthusiastic about Obama’s nomination. In a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, only 52 percent of Clinton’s supporters plan to vote for Obama in November. Twenty-one percent now support McCain, and another 27 percent say they are undecided or will “vote for someone else.” Organizations like the People United Means Action (PUMA) and Just Say No Deal have mobilized thousands of Clinton supporters in protest of Obama as the candidate of the Democratic National Committee, claiming rampant sexism in the media’s coverage of Clinton’s campaign as well as unfair rulings in the cases of the Michigan and Florida primaries (the states were penalized for holding their primaries early).

“I do think there was sexism in her media coverage,” Balcunis-Harris said, “but [Obama] won a majority of delegates, and now it’s time to rally behind him.” Hours before Obama announced Senator Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his vice-presidential running mate, Balchunis-Harris was still holding out for an Obama-Clinton ticket. “It’s clear that [Clinton’s] supporters have not come over yet,” she said. “I really believe she could win them over and energize the party.” Despite Obama’s choice of V.P., she’s optimistic that the Democratic Party will be unified come November.

After clinching the nomination, many news networks declared that the Democratic Party was “Obama’s Party.” Some Democrats were apprehensive about the potential drama that might ensue on the convention floor. It was announced weeks before the convention that not only would Clinton’s name be put into nomination, but she would be given a role as a headlining speaker. Her husband was also offered a speaking slot. This led to widespread speculation over who really controls the Democratic Party. Balchunis-Harris doesn’t flinch at this dilemma, saying, “If the Clintons had so much control over the party, then she would be the nominee.” She explains the issue of party control as a phenomenon propagated by party members who feel a great deal of loyalty to the Clintons for their positive contributions to America, including eight years of peace and economic prosperity. President Clinton left office in 2000 with the largest federal surplus in United States’ history. Balchunis-Harris sees no power struggle within the party, stating, “I see both Clintons as very positive in terms of contributing to an Obama presidency.”

Heading into the convention, Balchunis-Harris most looked forward to Clinton’s speech on Tuesday night. Clinton spoke close to 25 minutes about the urgent necessity facing her party: to elect a Democratic president in order to provide a system of universal healthcare and repair the United States’ standing in the world. “The time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose,” she said. Clinton tried to put any doubt about her family’s loyalty to rest through deliberate reiteration of her support for the Democratic Party’s nominee. “Barack Obama is my candidate,” she declared, “and he must be our president.” But the biggest roar came from the convention’s crowd around the four-minute mark of Clinton’s speech, when she said, “You haven’t… endured the last eight years to suffer through more failed leadership.” Clinton paused to survey the crowd before adding, “No way. No how. No McCain.”

Balchunis-Harris was overwhelmed by the historical significance of the convention. She was quick to point out that not only was Barack Obama the first African American to receive the nomination from a major political party on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s, “I have a dream…” speech, but Hillary Clinton was also given the opportunity to speak on the anniversary of the ratification of the nineteenth amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote.

orensteinm1@lasalle.edu