Who are America’s independents? Will another “black and independent alliance” form this year as it did in 2008? And which candidates would do the most to open the political process so that it is less partisan-driven?

A public forum will discuss these questions as they relate to the 2012 presidential election at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, in UNCG’s Sullivan Science Building, Room 200.

Speakers will include Dr. Omar Ali, a UNCG associate professor and an independent political analyst who has appeared on CNN, NPR and CBS affiliate WFMY; Donna Moser, co-founder of North Carolina Independents and a longtime progressive voice for electoral reform; and Brittany Rodman, a recent UNCG graduate who majored in political science, minored in African American Studies and was a member of the Black Student Union.

“With historically low levels of confidence in government – nine out of 10 people disapprove of the job that Congress is doing – more people are asking themselves, ‘What role will independents play in the 2012 election?’” Ali notes.

“We are creating a forum so that independents and independent-minded folks can come together and discuss the upcoming presidential election from an independent perspective. There will be a couple of brief presentations on the history of independents and the structural and legal barriers they face in the electoral arena. The numbers are pretty staggering: across the nation upwards of 40 percent of Americans self-identify as independent. Here in North Carolina, two out of three new voters are registering as ‘unaffiliated.’

“The desire for less partisanship, non-partisan governance, and greater say among those outside of the two major parties is becoming louder with each passing election. Come join the forum on January 26 and add your voice to the mix.”

The forum is being sponsored by UNCG’s African American Studies Program, the Department of Political Science, the Black Student Union and North Carolina Independents.

A clip of Ali discussing the Iowa caucus and the role of independents on WFMY is available online.

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