LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD

A key component of Ripon College’s mission is to prepare students of diverse interests for lives of productive, socially responsible citizenship. Through exposure to a rich diversity of political thought in classes, organizations and speakers with The Center for Politics and the People, students begin the lifelong process of participating in constructive political debate, analyzing public policy and engaging with government.

In this election year, members of Ripon’s faculty, staff and alumni are demonstrating their expertise in the political arena.

LAMONT COLUCCI • Lamont Colucci, associate professor of politics and government, has been named a fellow of the Institute for Corean-American Studies Inc., whose mission is “advancing humanity, liberty, peace and security among all nations and all people.”

The institute cites Colucci’s experience as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State and expertise in United States national security and United States foreign policy. He has written two books and contributed to two others; is a senior advisor in national security for Contingent Security, senior fellow in national security affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council and advisor on national security and foreign affairs to the NATO-oriented Conference of Defence Associations Institute; teaches in the graduate program in intelligence and security at American Military University; and in 2018 was appointed to the National Task Force on National and Homeland Security.

Colucci frequently publishes opinion pieces in national publications. Recent ones include “How Coronavirus felled ‘Woke’ — for now,” April 2 on Newsmax.com; and “Socialist Dream Failed in Ripon,” May 18 on RightWisconsin.com. Visit Ripon.edu/Lamont.

ZACH MESSITTE • The book Republican Populist: Spiro Agnew and the Origins of Donald Trump’s America was released in October by The University of Virginia Press and is available on amazon.com. Ripon College President Zach Messitte is one of the co-authors. The book examines former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s significant impact on the modern Republican Party. The Wall Street Journal reviewed the book and praised it: “Skillfully drawing on Agnew’s archival papers, the authors show that his serrated rhetorical style dated to his earliest political forays.”

The book and its authors had widespread media coverage, including several airings of a segment on C-SPAN3’s “American History TV” program. Visit Ripon.edu/Zach.

And an interview on the Yahoo News Podcast Skullduggery.

The authors also published an opinion piece in The Washington Post on May 4, 2020. “Harsh rhetoric tears us apart — and can make violence seem acceptable: The lessons of the 1970 Kent State shootings” appeared on the 50th anniversary of the killings of student Vietnam War protestors on the Kent State University campus in Ohio.

JOLENE RUEDEN SCHATZINGER ’07 • Jolene Rueden Schatzinger ’07, associate director of engagement and donor relations, was elected to the Ripon City Council, representing District 4, on April 7, 2020. She also serves on the Ripon Area Fire District and the Cable TV Advisory Board.

As a student at Ripon College, she says her voice was valued in classes as well as in student life. After graduation, she wanted to help lift up voices, provide thoughtful questions, continue to strengthen the relationship between the College and the community, and be a more informed citizen who can help build connections. She joined the Emerge Wisconsin Class of 2020, which trains women interested in political office, and then ran for office.

“I believe it’s important to be involved in the political process, especially at the local level, because decisions that are made at the local level really do have an impact on not only everyday life for individuals but also the future of a community as a whole,” Schatzinger says.

HENRIK SCHATZINGER, STEVEN E. MARTIN • The book Game Changers: How Dark Money and Super PACs Are Transforming U.S. Campaigns was released March 1, 2020, and is available on amazon.com and the publisher at rowman.com. The authors are Henrik Schatzinger, associate professor of politics and government and codirector of the Center for Politics and the People; and Steven E. Martin ’96, professor of communication.

Schatzinger also co-wrote “The Influence of Corporate Lobbying on Federal Contracting,” a peer-reviewed study published by Social Science Quarterly in both online and print versions. Visit Ripon.edu/Henrik.

LUKE DRETSKE ’20 • Luke Dretske ’21, who is slated to graduate in December from Ripon, is running for the 41st State Assembly District in Wisconsin. “Citizens want new and bright ideas in the state legislature and someone energized to fight for issues,” Dretske says. “Even though I am running as a Republican with common-sense conservative values, I will have allegiance to only the people of the district and how we can improve the lives of families.

“The political process continues to be the bedrock of American citizenship. People tend to focus only on presidential elections when the elections closer to home — whether they are for the state legislature, city council, county board or school board — have a greater impact on our lives and the future of our communities. For us to get good, hard-working people in those positions, we need to treat each other with respect no matter the political disagreements.”

On KFIZ Radio (1450 AM) in April, Schatzinger discussed topics including effects of the coronavirus on the election in Wisconsin; the Center for Politics and the People; and Game Changers. A recording can be heard at Ripon.edu/Henrik2.

Martin’s Political Campaign Communication course introduces the range of communicative characteristics of political campaigns. Students act as part of a campaign team for a candidate running for “student body president” or a part of the media covering the campaign speeches, debates, appearances, advertising, and so on.