The Speak Up, Speak Out forum will allow students to scrutinize the candidates of the upcoming presidential election and discuss issues on both sides of the political spectrum.

“Politicians give us manipulative emotional messages,” said Merlyn Mowrey, Speak Up, Speak Out committee chairwoman. “Students need to learn how to identify red flags.”

The forum “Un-spin that Sound Bite! Let’s Analyze the Campaign Talk” will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Bovee University Center Auditorium.

Panelists are Clio senior Gary Ridley, Lincoln Park sophomore and College Republicans representative Nathan Inks, Lowell senior and College Democrats representative Karl Bouwhuis, English language and literature associate professor Bill Spruiell, political science assistant professor Cherie Strachan and communication and dramatic arts faculty member Jeff Drury.

Mowrey said every student should be able to have his or her say about election issues along with the opportunity to benefit from hearing the opposing ideas of peers.

“We like to have a wide range of different views,” Mowrey said. “We want to have students analyze where they’re getting their information from.”

Topics that will be discussed at the forum include the symbols and images used by political parties, the qualities of an effective presidential candidate and the messages the candidates are trying to convey to the public.

During the forum, clips of the candidates’ advertisements and political speeches will be shown to give the audience a chance to analyze exactly what they are seeing and hearing throughout the election process.

Mowrey said Speak Up, Speak Out forms usually draw a crowd of 120 to 150 students, but she is expecting more at Tuesday’s forum.

“Usually during presidential election years (participation) is higher,” she said.

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E-mail the author: Kara Scheerhorn