Best-selling political journalist to speak as part of Impact forum series
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Project Impact's interactive forum series continues with a presidential elections expert and author who will bring a version of his popular talk show commentary and analysis to Purdue University on Nov. 16 and 17.
Mark Halperin is best known for the book "Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime," a detailed account of the 2008 presidential election that was a New York Times best-seller. The book, which he co-authored with John Heilemann, is being made into a movie.
Halperin is currently working on a book about the 2012 election. He also is the senior political analyst for MSNBC and a regular on the cable network's political talk show "Morning Joe." In addition, he is editor-at-large and senior political analyst at Time magazine, where he writes The Page, an online site about national politics.
The Exponent, Purdue's independent daily student newspaper, is sponsoring the forum.
"There is no doubt that 2012 is going to be an epic election year, with Indiana once again both a bellwether and a battleground," Halperin said. "I'm delighted to have an opportunity to come talk with the Purdue community and the Brian Lamb School of Communication about where the country is now – and where we are headed."
Halperin will engage in an interactive forum with students on Nov. 16 similar to the one Project Impact held in October for immigration expert Roberto Suro. The session also is free and open to the public, and pizza and soft drinks will be provided for attendees. Audience members will be polled on their knowledge of the election, the political process and important issues. His talk, "Game Change: Road to the White House 2012," begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall.
On Nov. 17, Halperin will participate in a forum titled "Morning Joe: Boilermaker Edition." The event begins at 8:30 a.m. in Lawson Computer Science Building, Room 1142. Exponent students will interview him about his work and headlines in the morning's news – similar to the format of MSNBC’s "Morning Joe." Audience members are encouraged to read that morning's news and bring questions with them. Attendees will have the option to pose questions via Project Impact's Twitter, @Project_Impact. The event also is free and open to the public, and coffee and pastries will be provided.
Halperin is the third speaker in a forum series designed by Carolyn Curiel, clinical professor in the School of Communication and former senior White House aide and U.S. ambassador to Belize, and her group of directed study students.
"There are few journalists in any medium who are followed as closely as Mark Halperin on national politics," Curiel said. "I met Mark when we both worked at ABC News during the 1992 presidential election. As he did then, he continues to lead the way on sharp, insightful reporting and commentary. It is an extraordinary treat for our students, faculty and the Purdue community to have an opportunity to interact with him about this important election."
On Dec. 1, presidential historian Richard Norton Smith, a George Mason University professor who created and/or directed four presidential libraries, will speak on campus. Sites for these appearances will be announced at a later date.
The series will continue leading up to the 2012 presidential election.
The series is made possible by support from The Exponent, the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS), the Brian Lamb School of Communication, the Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence, the Department of History, International Programs, the Purdue Alumni Association, the College of Technology and the Department of Political Science.
Source: Carolyn Curiel, curiel@purdue.edu