This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
As a double major in art and government & law, Amanda Leone ’10 (Easton, Pa.) combines both fields in her role as political director of the upcoming student-run Election Night Broadcast on Nov. 4. Leone is also a member of the women’s basketball team.
Contrary to popular belief, Lafayette’s arch rival is not a Mountain Hawk from Bethlehem. As a college community, we face a tougher and greater challenge. Although we can be proud of the College’s academic strength, small class sizes, and exceptional faculty, the challenge of diversity has long been Lafayette’s kryptonite. Too often, Lafayette students are stereotyped as belonging to a certain demographic, and too often, people from the outside view us as being “the same.”
To refute these statements, however, you need look no further than the students hauling video cameras and tripods across the Quad. Over the past few weeks, Lafayette has been sparked with political activism as students of different interests, opinions, and experiences have dedicated their time and talents to the 2008 student-produced Election Night Broadcast. Whether the role is anchor, analyst, or podcast producer, we will all come together to make the broadcast a success.
Despite the inevitable political theme of the production, the broadcast reaches well beyond the realms of government and law, highlighting the many diverse talents of the Lafayette community. Majoring in anything from economics and business to geology, or international affairs to art, students from a broad range of departments and academic backgrounds will demonstrate the strength of Lafayette’s diversity on election night.
In my own experience with the broadcast, I, too, have had the opportunity to demonstrate the diverse aspects of my double major in art and government & law. In the past, I have been lost for words when asked how these two majors relate. Through my involvement with the broadcast, however, I have been able to contribute my experience in both fields toward a common objective.
As political director of the broadcast, I will be relaying House, Senate, and Presidential race results and visuals to our anchors and political analysts on air. I have also had the opportunity to contribute to the production artistically, helping to create a logo and “identity” for the broadcast, and acting as a liaison between Professor Lew Minter’s art students and Professor Mark Crain’s elections class.
So, is diversity really a weakness at Lafayette? Are we really all the same? The truth of the matter is that there are no “typical” Lafayette students. We come from different backgrounds, have different ideas, and certainly have our own unique strengths. Still need convincing? Tune in to the Election Night Broadcast on Nov. 4. The diverse talents and interests, whether political, economic, social, geographical, or journalistic, of Lafayette students will resonate as clearly as the broadcast itself.