American Election Night 2024

This year, Bamberg University's American Studies program is celebrating its fourth "American Election Night." Join us on November 5, 2024, in the main auditorium of the university (Feldkirchenstra?e 21, room F21/01.57), as we come together to discuss the campaigns, candidates, electoral proceedings, media coverage, and much more. We invite students, colleagues, and friends of the university to an evening of up-to-date analyses, live debates, and critical conversations about the American presidential election – a globally significant event that offers a unique glimpse into contemporary U.S. culture.

Like in the previous election years, this Election Night aims to foster a transatlantic dialogue about this particular cultural moment and its implications for the United States, Europe, Germany, and our academic community. To this end, we are currently putting together a program that we hope will create an environment in which everyone can critically explore America’s political landscape, past and present, in a congenial, open-minded atmosphere.

Mark your calendars to join us for the fourth "American Election Night" at Bamberg University. We look forward to seeing you on November 5, 2024!

Preliminary Program:

7 p.m. – Opening words: Prof. Dr. Christine Gerhardt (Univ. Bamberg)

7:10 p.m. – Bamberg votes: Start of the virtual mock election

7:15 p.m. – Keynote: Natascha Strobl (Vienna) – in German

8:15 p.m. – Buffet opening

8:30 p.m. – Panel discussion: Malte G?bel (SPIEGEL, Berlin), Nora Gomringer (Villa Concordia, Bamberg), Prof. Dr. Thomas Saalfeld (University of Bamberg), Prof. Dr. Andreas Wüst (Munich University of Applied Sciences); moderated by Prof. Dr. Christine Gerhardt (University of Bamberg) – in German

9:30 p.m. – Short film: “The Boy Who Couldn't Feel Pain” (in cooperation with Bamberger Kurzfilmtage e.V.)

10:10 p.m. – Live report from Boston, USA: Y?ld?z A?ar, M.A.

10:30 p.m. – Bamberg has voted: Commentary on the virtual Mock Election (Political Science, Univ. Bamberg) – in German

10:40 p.m. – Quiz: Fun facts about candidates and the presidential election – past and present

11 p.m. – Closing remarks and start of the live broadcast

Additional activities will include a book sale, a poster gallery, an interactive poetry wall, a photo box, and a potluck buffet (finger food donations welcome – sign up HERE). Drinks will be sold by the student association.

For questions, group reservations (10+), and media requests please contact info.amerikanistik(at)uni-bamberg.de.

Previous Election Nights

Please click on the following links to see the respective program and pictures: