Focus on the US elections: Prof. Dr. Daniel Stein inspires students at the Clara Schumann Comprehensive School

On October 2, 2024, Prof. Dr. Daniel Stein from the University of Siegen visited the Clara Schumann Comprehensive School in Kreuztal and gave an impressive lecture on the upcoming US presidential elections. The event took place as part of the long-standing cooperation between the University of Siegen and the comprehensive school and was organized via the "Rent-a-Prof" programme, which offers schools the opportunity to integrate expert lectures into lessons.

Prof. Dr. Stein, Professor of American Studies, is an expert in American cultural studies and offered the students an exciting insight into the significance of elections in the USA. He began with an overview of the global political and economic role of the United States and explained why it is important to pay close attention to these elections. Particularly fascinating was the explanation of the US electoral system, the Electoral College, which Prof. Dr. Stein highlighted both its strengths and weaknesses. He managed to present the complex structures in an understandable way and convey the historical significance of presidential elections.

His lecture focused on the current issues shaping the election campaign, in particular the economy, immigration policy and reproductive rights. Prof. Dr. Stein also explained the political approaches of the two leading candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and gave the students an insight into how the election could affect the future of the USA and its foreign policy.

The Q&A session that followed showed how inspired the students were by the talk. They asked questions about the possible changes in US foreign policy and the importance of gender and ethnicity in politics, especially in light of the fact that Kamala Harris could potentially be the first female president and person of color in office. Prof. Dr. Stein answered the questions in detail and gave the students deep insights into the political dynamics of the USA.
This lecture was part of the University of Siegen's "Rent-a-Prof" program, which offers schools in the region the opportunity to bring specialist knowledge directly from female academics into the classroom. The aim of the program is not only to give schoolgirls exciting insights into research and science, but also to arouse their interest in university teaching and academic topics.

The collaboration between the Clara Schumann Comprehensive School and the University of Siegen is a wonderful example of how schools and universities can work together to broaden pupils' horizons. The Q2 students thanked Prof. Dr. Stein with a small gift for his engaging lecture, which had a lasting impact on their perspective on the US elections and international politics.

The University of Siegen is looking forward to continuing such valuable collaborations in the future and providing schoolgirls with exciting insights into the world of science. If you, as a teacher or school principal, are also interested in an expert lecture in your classroom, the "Rent-a-Prof" program is available to help you find a suitable lecture date.

(Text and pictures by Ibrahim Kaddoura, teacher at the Clara Schumann Comprehensive School)