2008 Woodie Awards
Azerbaijani activists visit Towson's campus
Jane Linville
News | 4/17/08
Wednesday afternoon a group of Azerbaijani political activists met with Towson professors and students to learn about civic engagement.
From Azerbaijan, a country nestled between Russia and Iran on the Caspian Sea, the group's trip was sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center. The men and women involved will spend 11 days traveling through the region to meet local politicians and attend conferences.
"We want to learn how to attract more people [to the polls] in our country," Rashid Yusifbayli, from the central election commission of Azerbaijan, said. "Today is a historic period of change in our country. There are a lot of things I hope to get from the American experience. I joined the program to learn about the differences between the American election system and ours."
Prominent local politicians, such as Congressman John Sarbanes, that work with the federal government in Washington D.C. have met with the Azerbaijani activists.
"We have also been to Washington D.C. and [on Thursday] we will be traveling to Annapolis. I thought that the conference today was very interesting and I learned a lot that I can take back with me," Ramin Nuralyev, a chief advisor of the central election commission of Azerbaijan, said.
During the event, political science professor Toni Marzotto spoke about efforts being made within Towson University to engage students in different forms of political activism.
Matthew Durington, a cultural anthropology professor, spoke about involving communities in politics and studies used to analyze the aftereffects of different political movements.
Robert Rook, chairperson of the history department, closed by leading the group in a discussion about American and Middle Eastern perceptions of each other.
Geography professor Jeremy Tasch, and TU academic advisor Tracy Miller, organized the Towson conference.
From Azerbaijan, a country nestled between Russia and Iran on the Caspian Sea, the group's trip was sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center. The men and women involved will spend 11 days traveling through the region to meet local politicians and attend conferences.
"We want to learn how to attract more people [to the polls] in our country," Rashid Yusifbayli, from the central election commission of Azerbaijan, said. "Today is a historic period of change in our country. There are a lot of things I hope to get from the American experience. I joined the program to learn about the differences between the American election system and ours."
Prominent local politicians, such as Congressman John Sarbanes, that work with the federal government in Washington D.C. have met with the Azerbaijani activists.
"We have also been to Washington D.C. and [on Thursday] we will be traveling to Annapolis. I thought that the conference today was very interesting and I learned a lot that I can take back with me," Ramin Nuralyev, a chief advisor of the central election commission of Azerbaijan, said.
During the event, political science professor Toni Marzotto spoke about efforts being made within Towson University to engage students in different forms of political activism.
Matthew Durington, a cultural anthropology professor, spoke about involving communities in politics and studies used to analyze the aftereffects of different political movements.
Robert Rook, chairperson of the history department, closed by leading the group in a discussion about American and Middle Eastern perceptions of each other.
Geography professor Jeremy Tasch, and TU academic advisor Tracy Miller, organized the Towson conference.
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