Reaching Beyond The Classroom
That passion led her to Iowa and a job working with Barack Obama in his pursuit to become the next president. Campigotto, an economics and international studies major, credits The Cable Center’s Distance Learning Class with C-SPAN for engaging her in the political process. “The class made politics seem more accessible—it took politics off an ivory tower and made it seem like something I could be a part of,” said Campigotto. The fall quarter of the class was the start of the Road to the White House, a year-long examination of the process of electing a United States president. The discussion, led by C-SPAN Political Editor Steve Scully and Pace University Professor Chris Malone, included the nomination process and the importance of states like Iowa in choosing top candidates. “Chris Malone told us that the caucuses in Iowa are something that anyone interested in politics should participate in at least once. After that, I decided to join a friend in Iowa for a week or two to volunteer,” said Campigotto, “and then I never came back.” She decided to stay in Iowa until the caucuses were over on January 3. “It’s rewarding to witness the impact of the class,” said Dolly Bonner, director of programs and education. “Steve and Chris’s expertise and passion for politics always motivates students.” Now Campigotto is continuing her work for the Obama campaign in Colorado. Campigotto says that the Distance Learning Class gave her the historical context needed to be successful in her work. “I wouldn’t have understood Iowa’s place in the process,” she said. “Every campaign is linked to the campaign that has come before it. This class was my springboard into the real world.” If you would like to learn more about the Distance Learning Class with C-SPAN, contact Dolly Bonner at 303.871.7939 or dbonner@cablecenter.org.
|
“I’ve always been interested in politics,” said University of Denver student Christine Campigotto. “The Distance Learning Class turned that interest into a passion.”