CONWAY, Ark. (August 31, 2012) - Politics professor Dr. Jay Barth '87 will bring the 2012 Democratic National Convention to the Hendrix College campus in two unique ways.
Barth was selected this summer to serve as a delegate at the 2012 party convention held September 3- 6, 2012, in Charlotte, N.C.
He will teach his American Parties & Elections class remotely from Charlotte on Wednesday, Sept. 5. The class meets 1:10 - 2 p.m. in Mills B. The following day, Barth will lead a discussion at noon in Mills B as part of the College's weekly Forum series organized by Project Pericles.
Participating in a national convention as a delegate will add another layer of depth to his discussions with students, Barth feels.
"The variety of political experiences that I have had-from running for office to media commentary and now to serving as a delegate to a national convention-shape my understanding of American politics and, when pertinent, inform my teaching on those topics," he said. "By providing examples grounded in those experiences, I inevitably indicate my political predispositions. However, as I present (and provoke) analytical criticisms regarding the issues and political groups about which I obviously care deeply, I show students that political scientists have a responsibility to analyze the political world, looking past their own biases."
"Students come to see that it is this set of analytical tools that differentiates political scientists from political activists," he added.
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is a national leader in engaged liberal arts and sciences education. Hendrix was named the country's #1 "Up and Coming" liberal arts college for the third consecutive year by
U.S. News and World Report. Hendrix is featured in the 2011 edition of the Princeton Review as one of the country's best 376 colleges and is listed in the 2012 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges as one of 25 "Best Buy" private colleges. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit
www.hendrix.edu.