Thoughts with Profs: Rock the Mock brings excitement to learning

Column by Amy Rogan, Pulse Adviserthoughts with prof

Tuesday, the University of Findlay campus comes together to raise its collective voice. October 29 is the third Rock the Mock at UF, a mock election for the presidential race.

I came to UF in 2014. I had organized a mock election at my previous university and wanted to do the same thing here.

So in 2016, a group of communication students took on the challenge to organize and execute a mock election. The group came up with the name Rock the Mock and it stuck.

Each time we’ve done this, students have started with trepidation. They’re not sure why I’m pushing them to do the event, but for the most part, they’re up for the challenge.

The event teaches them so many things. It teaches our Media and COMM students how to organize and publicize an event, and develop communication strategies to engage the audience. It helps journalism students learn how to cover politics and the importance of a free press in a democracy. It teaches them more about the political process, the history of voting in America, and the privilege we have as U.S. citizens to express our voices.

When the plans first begin the students are laid back and just going through the motions of another assignment. As the event draws closer, the excitement builds. They’re using social media campaigns; they’re engaging with administration for support of the event.

It’s not just the students–the Media and COMM department feels the anticipation and excitement as well. In fact, almost all of the COMM classes have some kind of tie-in to the event in support of the Pulse Media Club, which is hosting the event.

We want our students to understand civic duty, social issues, political maneuvering, communication strategies, and so much more.

Certainly, not everyone is tuned into politics. And that’s okay. Our students are still learning, still finding themselves and their voices.

But we hope this event helps people understand their place in the community. Each individual’s contribution holds value. And their thoughts and ideas hold value. The political process is meant to draw on a variety of ideas, voices, and values to do what is best for a community.

The University of Findlay campus community has a wide range of people from different backgrounds, different values, different cultures, and different perspectives. But in the end, we are all beneficiaries of democracy.

Hopefully Rock the Mock helps us realize how despite the differences of a population, a group of people can come together to make a choice for the community.

You can cast your vote of one of two polling locations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the CBSL or the AMU.

At noon stop by the Delong Writing Center in CBSL to hear what Colleen Marshall, award-winning anchor and political journalist from NBC4 Columbus, has to say about Journalism and Democracy as part of this year’s Wilkin Series.