2024 U.S. Elections Forum Series

October 2024

Power, Politics, and Our Democracy

This series provided a platform for deep conversations with scholars and national thought leaders about our quickly changing and polarized democracy.

Co-sponsored by: Institute for Social Transformation, Merrill College, The Humanities Institute, Science and Justice Research Center, Politics Department Democratic Discourse and Engagement Initiative, Kresge College, John R. Lewis College, and College Nine.

Wed., October 2 at 7 p.m.

Navigating the Media Landscape: Critical Media Literacy in the 2024 Elections

Speakers:

Nolan Higdon, Lecturer, Merrill College (UCSC)
Jeff Share, Lecturer, School of Education and Information Studies (UCLA)
Roberto de Roock, Associate Professor of Learning Sciences and Technology (UCSC)
Daisy Martin, Founding Director of The History & Civics Project (UCSC)

Moderators:

Elizabeth Beaumont, Associate Professor of Politics and Legal Studies (UCSC)
Kayson Tang, Undergraduate Class of Merrill College ’26 (UCSC)

Wed., October 9 at 7 p.m.

Identity in Focus: Media Representations and the 2024 Presidential Election

Speakers:

Allison Butler, Senior Lecturer and Director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program in the Department of Communication (University of Massachusetts, Amherst)
Nicholas Baham, Professor of Ethnic Studies (California State University, East Bay)
Andy Lee Roth, Associate Director (Project Censored)
Steve Macek, Professor of Communication and Media Studies (North Central College)

Moderators:

Nolan Higdon Lecturer, Merrill College (UCSC)
Kayson Tang, Undergraduate Class of Merrill College ’26 (UCSC)

Thurs., October 10 at 7 p.m.

U.S. Elections and Democracy in Deeply Polarized Times: What are the Stakes and Opportunities?

Speakers:

Elizabeth Beaumont, Associate Professor of Politics and Legal Studies (UCSC)
Larry Gerston, Lecturer, Politics (UCSC) and Professor Emeritus (SJSU)
Dan Wirls, Professor of Politics (UCSC)
Kira Tait, Assistant Professor of Politics and Legal Studies (UCSC)
Anjuli Verma, Assistant Professor of Politics and Legal Studies (UCSC)

Moderator:

Chris Benner, Director of the Institute for Social Transformation (UCSC)

Tues., October 15 at 5:30 p.m.

Moving Money and Moving Power: Philanthropy Isn’t Neutral

Speaker:

Carmen Rojas, President & CEO (Marguerite Casey Foundation)

Moderator:

Chris Benner, Director of the Institute for Social Transformation (UCSC)

Tues., October 22 at 7 p.m.

Engaging Digital Democracy: Tools to recognize political dis- and mis-information

Speakers:

Sylvanna Falcón, Professor of Latin American & Latino Studies and Founder/Director of UC Santa Cruz’s Human Rights Investigations Lab (UCSC)
Sally Lehrman, Chief Executive (The Trust Project)

Moderator:

Jenny Reardon, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of the Science and Justice Research Center (UCSC)

Wed., October 30 at 7 p.m.

Decoding the Headlines: Top News Stories, Misinformation, and the 2024 Presidential Campaign

Speakers:

Nolan Higdon, Lecturer, Merrill College (UCSC)
Mickey Huff, Distinguished Director of the Park Center for Independent Media and Professor of Journalism (Ithaca College)
Robin Andersen, Professor Emerita of Media Studies (Fordham University)
Reina Robinson, Founder and CEO (Center for Urban Excellence)

Moderators:

Anjuli Verma, Assistant Professor of Politics and Legal Studies (UCSC)
Kayson Tang, Undergraduate Class of Merrill College ’26 (UCSC)