León, Gto., May 9, 2018.-  The student community of the University of Guanajuato (UG) Campus León, organized by the second time the Colloquium of "Political Science and Public Administration. Rethink the 2018 elections What is next?", comprised by conferences, workshops, analysis tables and debates with the purpose to generate a space for academic discussion and divulgation.

During the opening ceremony held in the Division of Social Sciences and Humanities, Dr. Lorena del Carmen Álvarez Castañon, Academic Secretary of Campus León, acknowledged the effort and commitment of all the participants, specially from those of the students, to whom she told that society requires "leaders with a critic sense and strength to oppose, but also creative and sensitive to oppose; he who opposes, proposes".

She also emphasized the great challenges the students face as professionals in Political Science and Public Administration and as a community in general, since they are labeled as agent of change.

Fabiola Afanador Rojas, a student in Political Science and Public Administration, gave a message highlighting that "as citizens, as young people and students, we are worried by the growing wave of violence, impunity, corruption and injustices that reign our country".

She added that the main role of the college students is to prepare to think critically and face a reality that it is plural and in conflict, hence, "this space is for those students, experts and whoever is interested, to listen, discuss, learn and question".

After the protocol act, Dr. Carlos Luis Sánchez y Sánchez, a full-time professor of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences at the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM), shared with the attendants the conference "Political Communication and its effects in the electoral behavior."

His participation was about the effect of mass media in their messages, he began with the story from October 30, 1938, where Orson Welles, an American producer, director and writer adapted the classic "The War of the Worlds" to a radio script, then through a newscast he narrated meteorites falling and alien spaceships invading United States.

He explained that minutes later appeared the second message where Orson Welles himself narrated it was fake after the country was in a state of alert and terror. That is how Dr. Sánchez y Sánchez related the effects of mass media in the individual behavior of the population.

He also reflected about the importance for the citizens to stay true to their beliefs without the intervention of mass media, a situation he sees as a challenge. Also, he mentioned that every opinion from the citizens will be equal to the information and predisposition that it is present.

During the Q&A session, the interest was centered toward the actual electoral campaigns and the preferences of the candidates, included the behavior of who still don't decide their vote for July 1st.

It must be mentioned that the main topics that will be addressed on May 9, 10, 11 are: Political communication and marketing, open government, party systems and electoral reforms.

The full program of the colloquium can be found in www.ugto.mx/campusleon/calendario or follow the live stream through the Facebook profile @coloquiApyCp

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