Kean’s Distinguished Lecture Series Continues with Dana Bash

By Elaine Amico | Published December 16, 2022

CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash is the newest member of Kean’s Distinguished Lecture Series, a series that aims to bring prominent national leaders and changemakers to the university.

Bash’s lecture took place on Nov. 15 in the STEM Building Auditorium, and offered a 30-minute pre-event for students who are on the journalism or political science track to ask Bash questions about her career. 

The pre-event, moderated by Jeremiah Sullivan, director of the career curriculum and academic partnerships at Kean, started with a heated question that fired up a controversial debate among students.

“Is it pork roll or taylor ham?” Sullivan asked.

Bash informed students that she doesn’t eat either, and definitely doesn’t have a preference for what she calls it. The question was quite fitting for Bash as she herself is a jersey girl, originally from Montvale. Bash also informed students that when it comes to New Jersey’s two famous male singers, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, she sees Springsteen as number one.

When asked what her most important advice would be to students in college right now, she stressed the importance of internships.

“My internships taught me what I didn’t want to do, as much as what I did want to do,” Bash said. “There was a time that I thought I might want to go into public relations, but after completing an internship in corporate communications, I knew it was not for me. It was in an office, it was very formal, basically the opposite of a newsroom.”

Bash believes that learning that lesson in college was much more valuable than learning it after majoring in Public Relations, and realizing she picked the wrong career.

The main event, moderated by John Wooten, executive director of theatre management and programming, took a more serious tone with a large focus on the midterm elections that happened the week prior.

“The Democratic Party had a very big boost in what otherwise would have been a very tough election for democrats,” Bash said. “They got that boost from young people.”

Bash explained that while the number of young people who came out to vote didn’t have a significant increase in comparison to years past, the majority of young voters voted democratic, which gave the Democratic Party an advantage in terms of keeping control of the Senate, and losing very few house seats.

When asked what news networks can do to help voters make informed and educated decisions in today’s political climate, Bash believes that focusing on nonpartisan news and media outlets that are completely objective is very important. 

She also believes that when it comes to local elections, make sure you take advantage of all opportunities to get to know your candidate, especially if you have the chance to meet them.

“When you’re talking about local elections, look and see what your candidate’s schedule is,” Bash said. “See if you can meet with them and ask them questions. While it may sound time-consuming, it is possible.”

The event ended with an opportunity for audience members to ask Bash questions. A gentleman inquired about the future of the Democratic Party, and asked Bash who she felt might decide to run for president in 2024, if President Joseph Biden decides not to run.

“The way to answer that question is to look at the numerous democrats who ran against Joe Biden in 2020. Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer,” Bash said. “They exist, but I don’t think you have been able to see or hear them as much because we have a democratic president.”

The next Distinguished Lecture Series will continue with James McBride, who is both a writer and a musician on Feb. 9, 2023, at the Liberty Hall Academic Center. There will be a book signing immediately following his lecture. More information regarding this lecture, and future lectures for the spring semester is available at https://www.kean.edu/lectureseries.

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