Convocation | Dr. Tom Knecht

November 1, 2018

The message rang out loud and clear in the Hitchcock Theatre, as Dr. Tom Knecht, a political science professor from Westmont College, spoke to the Cate students about the upcoming midterm elections.

Dr. Knecht’s presentation was divided into two parts: How Things Work and 10 Big Points. In just a few minutes, he managed to explain the significance of the midterm elections and sort out the complexities of the various races for the House and the Senate, as well as mentioning gubernatorial races, state propositions, and city and county measures. For the 10 Big Points, Dr. Knecht slowed down a bit, diving deeply into voting trends and patterns and using state propositions as a way to illustrate the complexity of voting in the United States. Carefully non-partisan, Dr. Knecht never told the students for whom they should vote. However, he was very clear on HOW voting should take place — in the context of civil discourse, in the realm of civic responsibility. Junior Jacob Wu pressed Knecht on this point. “As an individual,” asked Wu, “why should I vote?” According to Dr. Knecht, everyone should vote as part of their civic duty. Although an individual’s vote will probably not be instrumental in bringing about a certain outcome, it is certainly expressive of a person’s opinion and will lead to better government. Senior Sarah Polowczak questioned the professor, as well. Referencing the well-known polling errors of the 2016 presidential election, she asked whether we, as voters, should trust the effectiveness of polls. Dr. Knecht recommended healthy skepticism and discernment for reliable sources. He also noted that answering calls from polling organizations is a way to maximize one’s political influence.

Dr. Knecht’s Convocation presentation set the stage for the community’s response to the upcoming midterm elections. By his words and his example, Dr. Knecht modelled political discussion that is engaged, educated, and open to deliberation. His persuasive enthusiasm will surely get all eligible Cate voters to the polls.