American Election Night 2024
This year, Bamberg University's American Studies program is celebrating its fourth "American Election Night." Join us on November 5, 2024, as we come together in the university's main lecture hall (Feldkichenstraße 21, room F21/01.57) to discuss the campaigns, candidates, electoral proceedings, media coverage, and much more. We invite students, colleagues, and friends of the university to an evening of up-to-date analyses, live debates, and critical conversations about the American presidential election – a globally significant event that offers a unique glimpse into contemporary U.S. culture.
Like in the previous election years, this Election Night aims to foster a transatlantic dialogue about this particular cultural moment and its implications for the United States, Europe, Germany, and our academic community. To this end, we are currently putting together a program that we hope will create an environment in which everyone can critically explore America’s political landscape, past and present, in a congenial, open-minded atmosphere.
Mark your calendars to join us for the fourth "American Election Night" at Bamberg University. We look forward to seeing you on November 5, 2024!
Program:
7 p.m. – Opening words: Prof. Dr. Christine Gerhardt (Univ. Bamberg)
7:10 p.m. – Bamberg votes: Start of the virtual mock election
7:15 p.m. – Keynote: "How Radicalized Conservatism Threatens Democracy in the USA" Natascha Strobl (Vienna) – in German
8:15 p.m. – Buffet opening and drinks by the student board (Fachschaft Sowi)
8:30 p.m. – Panel discussion: Malte Göbel (SPIEGEL, Berlin), Nora Gomringer (Villa Concordia, Bamberg), Prof. Dr. Andreas Wüst (Munich University of Applied Sciences); moderated by Prof. Dr. Christine Gerhardt (Univ. Bamberg) – in German
9:30 p.m. – Short film: “The Boy Who Couldn't Feel Pain” (with the kind support of Bamberger Kurzfilmtage e.V.) and commentary by Dr. Johanna Feier (Univ. Bamberg)
10:10 p.m. – Live report from Boston, USA: Yıldız Aşar (Univ. Bamberg)
10:30 p.m. – Bamberg has voted: Commentary by Olaf Seifert (Univ. Bamberg) on the virtual mock election – in German
10:40 p.m. – Quiz: Curious facts about the US presidential election
11 p.m. – Closing remarks and start of the live broadcast
Other activities include a book table from the Collibri bookstore, an interactive poetry wall, a photo box, and a potluck buffet. Drinks are sold by the SOWI student council and an awareness team from the HUWI student council accompanies the evening. Accompanying coverage will be provided by the editor Julia Schubert from Uniradio friedaFM, among others.
