New professor's research explores power of words in politics

If you want to parse the language of the latest political advertisements, Vincent Vecera will be happy to join the conversation. If you would rather talk about 1960s jazz music or more recent hip hop, he still would love to talk.

Vecera, a new political science professor at Randolph College, believes words become weapons in politics. He especially enjoys digesting political messages to see the power behind the words. “I don't really follow sports because politics is my sport,” he said. “Politics is the only sport where the trophy matters. The trophy is the order of human civilization.”

In graduate school at the University of Minnesota, Vecera studied the way language sways public discourse. He spent 3,000 hours reading newspapers from across the 20th century and recording the arguments made on a variety of legal issues ranging from abortion and gun regulation to rent control and marriage. He focused on how using the language of civil and political rights changed the discussion of those issues.

“What I showed in my dissertation is that the words we use matter,” Vecera said. He is now writing a book based on that dissertation.

His assessment of the current presidential election? It is more boring than usual, he said. “In one sense, the power of words has been decreased because there has been more material lying,” Vecera said. He predicts a much more interesting 2016 election with a comeback from the party that loses this year.

Vecera chose to teach at Randolph because of the spirit of community that he felt when he visited the campus. People around campus seemed to know and respect each other, he said. The dedication to the school’s honor code strengthened that feeling of community.

“Every college has an honor code, but I was struck by how, throughout my meetings here, people kept coming back to that,” he said. “It was a really wonderful testament to a culture here.”

“I always wanted to work at a small liberal arts college—Not only a teaching college, but a place that had a sense of community and values,” Vecera said. “That made my decision to choose Randolph, instead of a couple of other places, very easy.”

When he is not teaching or writing, Vecera has a passion for music. He listens to five or six new albums each week. He owns about 2,000 records, and he deejayed many parties in college. Some of his favorite genres include 20th century classical music, jazz from the late 1950s and 1960s, and underground hip hop, he said.

Since arriving on campus, Vecera has been impressed by how welcoming and warm everyone has been—and how warm the temperature has been to him since he is acclimated to Minnesota weather. He feels that he is in the right place. “A tenure track position at a place like this is, to me, like winning the lottery,” he said.

Randolph College to Host Congressional Election Debate

Congressman Tom Perriello (D) and state Senator Robert Hurt (R) will debate at 4:30 p.m. on October 27, 2010 in the Smith Hall Theatre at Randolph College.

A panel will direct questions to the candidates focusing their questions on issues concerning business and the economy.

Perriello and Hurt are campaigning for the Virginia 5th District seat to the United States House of Representatives.

This event is sponsored by the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce and Randolph College.

Howard Dean to Speak at Randolph College (updated)

Former presidential candidate Howard Dean will speak at Randolph College on October 11, 2010.

Dean served as governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003 and was a front runner for the Democratic nomination in the 2004 presidential election, eventually won by John Kerry.

As chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009, Dean was a pioneer in the area of internet fundraising and developed the "50 State Strategy" which led to Democrat electoral victories in 2006 and 2008.

About the Event

Dean will speak at 7:30 p.m. in the Smith Hall Theatre on the campus of Randolph College. The address will be open to the public.

About Howard Dean

• CNBC Contributor
• Founder, Democracy for America
• Chairman, Democratic National Committee, 2005-2009
• Architect of the “50-State Strategy”
• 2004 Candidate for the Democratic Nomination for President
• Governor of Vermont, 1991-2003

Howard Dean's groundbreaking campaign for the U.S. Presidency and subsequent four years as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee have provided him with both an insider's view and a reformer's commitment to the economy, foreign trade policy and international relations. His 12 years as Governor and his Chairmanship of the National Governor's Association have given him a vast knowledge of domestic issues.

His skillful stewardship of the party as Democratic National Committee chair began in 2005 and continued through the inauguration of President Barack Obama. As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Governor Dean made the Democratic Party competitive in every race, in every district, in every state and territory, while integrating national and state party operations and standing up for Democrats' core values.

Reserved Tickets

Tickets to "Randolph College presents Howard Dean" in Smith Hall Theatre are free. Seating is limited and a ticket is required for entrance. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

Tickets will be available to the general public beginning September 29. Send an e-mail to ktuggle@randolphcollege.edu with your name, address, phone, e-mail, preferred contact method and the number of tickets requested. You will receive an e-mail on October 6 with confirmation and information on how to pick up tickets.

Randolph College students, faculty and staff should consult the Portal (http://my.randolphcollege.edu/) for information on how to reserve tickets.

General Admission (closed circuit venues)
Dean's speech will also be broadcast via closed circuit television in the Smith Hall Banquet Room. General admission seating for the closed circuit broadcast is free. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.