2008 Woodie Awards
NJ governor to teach new political course
Michelle Caffrey
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
|
Brendan Byrne, the head of New Jersey government from 1974 to 1982, will be arriving on campus to teach a class in politics and the media, President Bob Weisbuch said. "He's a true intellectual, a real renaissance man," Weisbuch said.
Byrne will teach a class exploring how to handle the media in relation to politics. "This is an exciting area. In communications and politics there's a need for enlightenment," Byrne said.
Byrne plans to structure the class around bringing in people he's come to know through his political career and involvement with the media. "I want to get people who know the field, get people who are doing this every day," he said. "I want to get the journalists themselves."
While Byrne said he wasn't sure of who was available to come, Weisbuch said that Thomas Kean has planned to be a guest.
"I've seen so many different people in the public world who've had varying success with the press," Byrne said. "John Kennedy was the best I've ever seen at handling the press. He'd be the inspiration, if not model, for the course."
However, Byrne said that he's looking forward to hearing what Drewids have to say as well. "Students will bring fresh ideas [and] additional enlightenment," he said. Weisbuch agreed. "He doesn't know how much he's going to love teaching here. He hasn't met the students yet," he said.
The University was able to make Byrne's class a possibility through a connection to his wife, Ruthie Zinn-Byrne. "Ruthie helps connect Drew to New Jersey leaders, and we got to know her well," he said. Additionally, Zinn-Byrne has a close relationship with Kean. They co-write a weekly column in The Star Ledger, discussing state and national politics.
Teaching at Drew was an easy decision for Byrne. "I have a close relation with the former and current presidents," he said. "I'm very comfortable there."
Weisbuch said the presence of such a well-known political figure will also raise Drew's academic profile. "He's one of the most loved people in New Jersey," he said.
His personality, Weisbuch said, will bring a lot to campus. "No one's been bored in his presence," he said.
Be the first to comment on this story