Wesleyan University
Open main menu
Menu
Close menu Close left shield right shield
  • About
  • Admission & Aid
  • Academics
  • Life @ Wesleyan
  • Visit
  • News & Events
  • Athletics
  • Giving
  • Alumni
  • Parents
  • Directory
  • Tools
    • WesPortal
    • Library
    • OneStop
    • Calendar
    • WesMaps
  • Search

News @ Wesleyan

Main menu

Skip to content
  • News Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Science & Technology
  • Society
  • Athletics
  • Campus News & Events
  • In the Media
  • All News
  • Alumni

Sub menu

Dancey Engages Students in Elections Research, E2020 Initiative

by Katie Aberbach • April 24, 2020

Logan Dancey

Logan Dancey

Associate Professor of Government Logan Dancey foresees many important opportunities for students to get involved and make a difference with upcoming local elections this fall—and the Engage 2020 (E2020 initiative) will be a prime vehicle for that work.

Dancey recently gave a presentation via Zoom video webinar to Wesleyan faculty and staff about his research on American electoral politics and his work with students on this topic. Featured as part of the regular Staff Luncheon series, Dancey’s talk was titled “Student-Centered Elections Research: From the Middletown Mayoral Race to E2020.”

“It won’t surprise many of you to know that we are in a very polarized time,” Dancey said. His work with students in his recent courses represents some of his recent efforts to gather and analyze data about the United States’ increasingly polarized electorate. It also informs future projects for Dancey and his students, particularly in the upcoming semester, as part of E2020, a comprehensive University effort to support student learning via civic engagement and liberal arts education.

With more than 200 participating universities, ranging from large research universities to small liberal arts colleges to religious schools, E2020 is open to and encourages participation regardless of political affiliations or stances on specific issues. At Wesleyan, students have already begun to engage in E2020-related work on behalf of voter registration efforts, issue advocacy initiatives, and local and national campaigns. Other opportunities to participate include attending events and talks by guest speakers, and taking courses with content relevant to elections, such as those taught by Dancey.

Dancey’s GOVT 232: Campaigns and Elections class has recently focused on developing, executing, and analyzing the results of exit polls they conducted on Election Day. In the fall of 2018, his class conducted exit polling in Connecticut, and partnered with students at two universities in Minnesota and North Dakota to share results. Their work yielded “a rich data set” from the results of 1,300 surveys in the three states. The data allowed students to analyze, compare, and contrast partisan perspectives on issues such as gender discrimination and gun control, Dancey said.

logan dancey govt class

Logan Dancey, associate professor of government, spoke about the experience of students in his 2018 Campaigns and Elections class and their exit-polling project, executed in collaboration with students from North Dakota State University and St. Olaf College.

Last year, Dancey focused on the Middletown municipal elections, which saw a tight race between newcomer (and ultimate victor) Ben Florsheim ’14 and Seb Guiliano. Students Claire Isenegger ’21 and Caroline Salim ’21 developed a questionnaire and exit polling plan as part of a tutorial they took with Dancey, and Dancey’s Campaigns and Elections class partnered with Associate Professor of Government and Director of the Wesleyan Media Project Erika Franklin Fowler’s Empirical Methods for Political Science class to administer the survey. The students collected surveys from roughly 300 Middletown voters (although Dancey cautioned that the respondents who agree to take an exit poll are not a random sample of voters).

“We were interested in the extent to which attitudes toward [President] Trump were a predictor of vote choice in a local election,” Dancey said. “What we found was that among the voters we surveyed, approval of Trump was a better predictor of vote choice for mayor than was approval of the outgoing mayor [Dan Drew, a Democrat like Florsheim].” Notably, Dancey said, “voters seemed to be less polarized about issues at the local level.”

As the Wesleyan community turns its focus to the E2020 initiative and the upcoming elections later this year, these findings will inspire and inform Dancey’s upcoming work. He said both he and Franklin Fowler believe it is important to share information about “down-ballot” races, or races that are being listed “down the ballot” from, or below, the presidential election, such as congressional and state legislative races. He and Franklin Fowler will work with students next semester to try to collect information about these “down-ballot” races, and engage students in new ways to analyze and share this information with the broader public.

logan dancey - chart about recent local elections

Dancey shared a chart illustrating the tight margins in a number of recent local elections. Dancey plans to work with students next semester to explore these types of “down-ballot” races.

They will work through the Wesleyan Media Project to collect and analyze candidates’ priorities through their advertising. They are also hoping to continue conducting exit polling with students (even if that work may take a different form, due to the COVID-19 pandemic), an experience that Dancey believes helps strengthen students’ knowledge of and personal connection with local politics.

Paraphrasing the E2020 initiative’s manifesto, he said, “This is a unique moment and opportunity for civic participation in the 2020 election cycle. . . . There are lots of opportunities for students to get engaged and help provide information to voters interested in local elections.”

Tags:civic engagement E2020 faculty research student research Wesleyan Media Project

Post navigation

← Roth ’78, Tanaka ’00 Outline Pandemic’s Financial Impact on Wesleyan
Stewart Holds Annual Earth Day Rant on “Bending the Curves” →

Search

Categories

  • Events
  • Grants
  • Snapshots
  • Publications
  • Staff
  • Students
  • Faculty
  • Alumni

Related Links

  • Contact Us
  • Latest Sports News
  • Wesleyan Magazine
  • Videos @ Wesleyan

Follow Wesleyan on Twitter

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 2 days ago

This month, Wesleyan is launching two new MOOCs (massive open online courses) on the Coursera platform. Enrollment for both classes is free of charge. fal.cn/3cM2e

The profile image of wes_athletics
Wesleyan Athletics 2 days ago

We stand in support of @WesSACLC and all their members, mission, goals and accomplishments To learn more about the Wesleyan Student-Athlete of Color Leadership Council visit ➡️ athletics.wesleyan.edu/sports/saclc twitter.com/wessaclc/statu… Retweeted by Wesleyan University

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 3 days ago

Michayla Robertson-Pine '22 and her friend found themselves frustrated with college online learning, so they created a remote, community-oriented program with the intent of spreading joyful learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for school-aged children. fal.cn/3cKof

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 4 days ago

As a result of an assignment from Professor Fred Cohan's course, Global Change and Infectious Disease, more than 25 students have had their work published in newspapers across the US – many citing the University’s COVID-19 safety protocols. fal.cn/3cIX9

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 6 days ago

Wesleyan University Press authors Hafizah Geter, Rae Armantrout, and Honorée Fanonne Jeffers were recently longlisted for awards from PEN America. fal.cn/3cFkT

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 1 week ago

“Once again, we in higher education must recommit to encouraging the kind of democratic practice that is fully in sync with the goals of liberal education...” President Michael Roth '78 shares his reaction to yesterday’s events in Washington: fal.cn/3cBB9

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 2 weeks ago

Happy new year, Cardinals! Here’s to a joyous and prosperous year.

test Twitter Media - Happy new year, Cardinals! Here’s to a joyous and prosperous year. https://t.co/vDP9AJA0EP
The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 2 weeks ago

Despite the many challenges, each member of our hard-working, committed, courageous Cardinal community played a part this semester in keeping our campus safe, vibrant, and accessible—an achievement worth recognizing as we reflect on the past year. Thank you for your efforts.

test Twitter Media - Despite the many challenges, each member of our hard-working, committed, courageous Cardinal community played a part this semester in keeping our campus safe, vibrant, and accessible—an achievement worth recognizing as we reflect on the past year. Thank you for your efforts. https://t.co/GRSwTU9nLT
test Twitter Media - Despite the many challenges, each member of our hard-working, committed, courageous Cardinal community played a part this semester in keeping our campus safe, vibrant, and accessible—an achievement worth recognizing as we reflect on the past year. Thank you for your efforts. https://t.co/GRSwTU9nLT
test Twitter Media - Despite the many challenges, each member of our hard-working, committed, courageous Cardinal community played a part this semester in keeping our campus safe, vibrant, and accessible—an achievement worth recognizing as we reflect on the past year. Thank you for your efforts. https://t.co/GRSwTU9nLT
test Twitter Media - Despite the many challenges, each member of our hard-working, committed, courageous Cardinal community played a part this semester in keeping our campus safe, vibrant, and accessible—an achievement worth recognizing as we reflect on the past year. Thank you for your efforts. https://t.co/GRSwTU9nLT
The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 3 weeks ago

Each year, Pauline Frommer ’88 and her team at Frommer’s publish a list of the best places to visit for the coming year. With travel still discouraged, the writers took a different approach: naming spots Americans should get to know. Read the full list: fal.cn/3cuQZ

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 3 weeks ago

ICYMI: For an entire month, Michael Gittes ’10 worked on a project “Strangers to No One” – which involved painting 1,800 flowers that he donated to the Interfaith Medical Center in New York City to show his appreciation for frontline health care workers. fal.cn/3ctN7

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 3 weeks ago

Angie Makomenaw, mental health education and prevention coordinator, recently talked about her goals, the uniquely challenging circumstances affecting students’ mental health, and how CAPS is reaching and supporting students during the pandemic. fal.cn/3csIH

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 4 weeks ago

Ron Cooper '79 said that he has always been inserted in meeting and photographing people who follow their passions. And so began Cooper’s latest journey around the country to photograph and interview professional Santa Clauses. fal.cn/3cphs

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 4 weeks ago

In these final days of 2020, we extend our best wishes for a relaxing winter break and holiday season. May the new year bring you peace, comfort, and joy. Stay safe, stay healthy! [Description: "Wishing you and yours peace, health & happiness" text moves over snowy Foss Hill.]

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 4 weeks ago

Two Wesleyan University Press music titles garnered four awards, from the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) and the American Musicological Society (AMS) last month. fal.cn/3ck5Z

The profile image of mroth78
Michael S Roth 4 weeks ago

Cold Cardinal outside our window. ⁦@wesleyan_u⁩ Retweeted by Wesleyan University

test Twitter Media - RT @mroth78: Cold Cardinal outside our window.    ⁦@wesleyan_u⁩ https://t.co/BH4JbfrxAc
The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 4 weeks ago

A winter wonderland ❄️ 📸 by Lisa Pinette - thank you for sharing!

test Twitter Media - A winter wonderland ❄️

📸  by Lisa Pinette - thank you for sharing! https://t.co/THJll5STS3
The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 1 month ago

Last March, Professor Barry Chernoff and some of his students took a trip to the University of Michigan, where they discovered 2 new species of fish. In the species, data demonstrated the opposite of expectations from evolutionary theory. fal.cn/3caUx

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 1 month ago

Registration for Wesleyan Graduate Liberal Studies spring term opens on January 5, 2021 for non-Wesleyan staff. Spring courses will be online, offering a flexible schedule with working adults in mind. Learn more and apply at wesleyan.edu/masters.

test Twitter Media - Registration for Wesleyan Graduate Liberal Studies spring term opens on January 5, 2021 for non-Wesleyan staff. Spring courses will be online, offering a flexible schedule with working adults in mind. Learn more and apply at https://t.co/9JBihiTsz4. https://t.co/4lBoU3TxVK
The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 1 month ago

Yu Kai Tan ’20, an earth and environmental sciences graduate student, was awarded a Geological Society of America’s Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division student presentation award on Nov. 23. Tan's poster had a “terrific use of time and space." fal.cn/3cgVA

The profile image of wesleyan_u
Wesleyan University 1 month ago

Your hard work has paid off! Finals are over and it’s time for the holiday season. Congratulations, Cardinals – you did it 🎉

test Twitter Media - Your hard work has paid off! Finals are over and it’s time for the holiday season. Congratulations, Cardinals – you did it 🎉 https://t.co/381dDnCNwZ

Snapshots

Amy Tang

Scholars Explore the Theme of “Dirt” Through Center for the Humanities Series

Shakti members Sushraya Jay and Darshana Banka moderated the discussion, which explored gender, privilege and their corresponding impacts on a day to day basis.

South Asia’s Caste System Discussed by Scholars, Students

On Nov. 19, students from the Javanese Gamelan Ensemble presented their work-in-progress, a number of compositions in different tuning systems, and formal musical structures.

Gamelan Ensemble Provides Virtual Mini-Concerts, Demonstrations During Pandemic

Kurtz

Kurtz Speaks on Improving Thinking Skills in Schizophrenia

Copyright © 2014 News @ Wesleyan. All Rights Reserved. Magazine Premium created by c.bavota.