NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Civic minded or not, Tennessee State University students recently got a crash course in politics, and a chance to express what it means to be an American.
The students, mainly communications and journalism majors, participated in a C-SPAN segment, “Voices from the Road,” aboard the C-SPAN Bus, which visited the TSU campus on Jan. 15 as part of its “Southern Swing Tour.”
“As an American, I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to be who it is that I want to be,” said Tyler Bullard, a journalism major from Springfield, Massachusetts, when asked what it means to be an American. “I understand in other countries and cultures, you have to go by the guideline, and if you do not, there is trouble that comes with that. I am grateful to be who it is I want to be.”
C-SPAN, a cable-satellite and public affairs network, has a mission to make government more transparent to Americans. In partnership with Comcast, the C-SPAN Bus Tour will also make stops in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
In Nashville, the Bus will also participate in Martin Luther King Jr. Day events around the city on Monday, March 21, including the Youth Rally at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, and the Annual Convocation at the TSU Gentry Center.
Through interactive kiosks and demonstrations aboard the award-winning state-of-the-art, 45-foot customized Bus, TSU students and visitors learned about C-SPAN’s in-depth coverage of the American political process and comprehensive online educational resources. Students also received information about networking, internship and employment opportunities with the network.
“We are so excited to be in Nashville as part of our ‘Southern Swing Tour,’ specifically at Tennessee State University,” said Jenae C. Green, marketing representative for C-SPAN, who is leading the tour. “The biggest thing we’ve learned is the high spirit among the students who are so passionate about their education. We come to show that we’re here for students and if you want to be civically engaged, know what’s going on in D.C., or around the country, you have C-SPAN here as an unbiased, unfiltered source that allows you to make your own informed decision.”
Wateasa Freeman, a sophomore journalism major from Columbus, Ohio, said she gained hands-on experience touring the bus and interacting with the C-SPAN representatives.
“Being here with people who actually do this daily for a living is just a whole new experience,” said Freeman. “It is great to know that there are people in this industry who care about us as college students. I feel being here really provided a lot of reassurance that I am in the right field.”
Before coming to TSU, the C-SPAN Bus also visited Antioch High School to engage students, teachers, community members, and elected officials.
For internship opportunities and information on C-SPAN, go to www.c-span.org and click on “Employment.”
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About Tennessee State University
With more than 7,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.