Posted on Friday, November 11, 2011
Mitt Romney was nominated as the Republican candidate for president at ¾¨Ó㴫ý's 19th Mock Convention Thursday night. Romney prevailed on the third ballot, with runner-up Michele Bachmann earning the vice presidential slot.
Romney was represented by senior political science and economics major Tyler Dever, a daughter of Leon Dever and Carolyn Nichols of Salt Lake City, Utah, and a graduate of Highland High School.
Bachmann was represented by senior political science major Katelyn Moga, a daughter of Timothy and Pamela Moga of Ashtabula, Ohio, and a graduate of Edgewood High School.
Two additional Republican candidates in the running were Rick Perry, represented by senior political science major Alex Scull, a son of Thomas and Stephanie Scull of DuBois and a graduate of DuBois Area High School; and Ron Paul, represented by senior political science major Anthony Tammaro, a son of Louis and Loraine Tammaro of Ellwood City and a graduate of Riverside High School.
In platform issues, a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman was defeated. Delegates approved resolutions calling for a continued U.S. presence in Afghanistan with no time constraints; debt reduction by privatizing some government services and eliminating others; and job creation through elimination of payroll tax on businesses and relaxation of environmental restrictions on industry.
A quadrennial event since its inception on the ¾¨Ó㴫ý campus in 1936 - with the exception of 1944, when it was not held due to World War II - the convention is held for the party not currently in the White House. This year's event included more than 800 ¾¨Ó㴫ý students plus faculty and staff participants.
"Thank you to all who participated in ¾¨Ó㴫ý's 2011 Mock Convention," said Dr. James Rhoads, ¾¨Ó㴫ý professor of political science and five-time faculty adviser to the convention. "I would like to recognize especially the students who planned and organized the event, as well as the region chairs, the issues speakers, the ¾¨Ó㴫ý Brass Ensemble, and those who led us in prayer and moments of national recognition. I hope those who participated enjoyed their time at the convention and took away how important it is to be engaged in our civic discourse."
Contact Rhoads at (724) 946-7255 or email for additional information. Click for details about this year's Mock Convention.
