Convention Watch Parties Feature Candidates' Favorite Foods

Quick Facts

There will be two watch parties this week related to the Republican National Convention taking place in Tampa, Fla.

Next week, there will be one watch party as the Democratic National Convention gets underway in Charlotte, N.C. The three events are free and open to the public.

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Karen Kedrowski

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Katarina Moyon

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop University students will tune into the Republican and Democratic political conventions for the next two weeks during watch parties.

There will be two watch parties this week related to the Republican National Convention taking place in Tampa, Fla. Next week, there will be one watch party as the Democratic National Convention gets underway in Charlotte, N.C. The three events are free and open to the public.

The parties will feature food tied to the candidates. “We researched both candidates’ hometown, where life has taken them, and their favorites from home in order to create a 'President Barack Obama Favorites Menu' and a 'Romney Favorites Menu,'” said Karen Kedrowski, political science professor and director of the John C. West Forum on Politics & Policy.

Kedrowski and Katarina Moyon, assistant director of the forum, worked with ARAMARK food services at Winthrop to come up with a delicious buffet for the two events.

Here is a rundown on the parties:

The Republican National Convention (Tampa, Fla.) Campus Watch Party
Aug. 29, Richardson Ballroom, DiGiorgio Campus Center
Time: Doors open at 7 p.m.

The Winthrop and Rock Hill communities will watch the nominating speeches at Roll Call vote of the states happening live at the Republican National Convention.

Wednesday night’s event will feature foods related to Mitt Romney, the GOP presidential candidate who hails from Michigan, served as governor of Massachusetts and led the effort for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

The Romney menu includes:

*Meatloaf cakes (Romney’s favorite food)
*Cheese quesadillas (father born in Mexico)
*Fenway Park-style hot dogs with mustard, relish and onions (nod to Boston)
*Cupcakes with multicolored frosting shaped like Olympic rings (Salt Lake City connection)
*Fruit salad with apples (Michigan touch)

Campus Watch Party
Aug. 30, Richardson Ballroom, DiGiorgio Campus Center
Time: Doors open at 7 p.m.

The Winthrop and Rock Hill communities will watch Romney's acceptance speech happening at the Republican National Convention on live television. Refreshments provided.

Democratic National Convention (Charlotte, N.C.) Campus Watch Party
Sept. 5, Richardson Ballroom, DiGiorgio Campus Center
Time: Doors open at 7 p.m.

The Winthrop and Rock Hill communities will watch the nominating speeches at Roll Call vote of the states happening at the Democratic National Convention on live television. Attendees will enjoy a buffet of foods representing the Democratic nominee, President Barack Obama, who grew up in Hawaii and served as a state legislator in Chicago.

The Obama menu includes:

*Chicago style deep dish pizza, cheese and pepperoni, (Illinois connection)
*Chips and guacamole (Obama’s favorite food)
*Hamburger sliders (Obama favorite)
*Pineapple upside down cake (nod to Hawaii)

The watch parties are sponsored by the John C. West Forum on Politics & Policy. The West Forum, started in 2002, transferred to Winthrop University in 2008. West, who was a former governor and professor, understood the importance of civic education and citizen participation and wanted students trained for positions they will be filling in the future.

Students in a Political Conventions class are among a group of 300 Winthrop faculty, staff and students who will travel up to Charlotte to watch Obama give his Sept. 6 acceptance speech at the Bank of America stadium.

The Democratic Convention activities are just the latest chapter in Winthrop's focus on the 2012 Presidential election. This focus began in June 2012 with the first of five visits by Republican Presidential candidates touring the state in advance of the important South Carolina GOP primary.

For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu or at 803/984-0586.

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