20 THE QUEENS COURIER • OCTOBER 8, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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“What are your personal roles in
this charged political environment
– as college students, adults, and
American citizens?”
This qu e s t ion , pos ed by
Queensborough Community College’s
Political Science Professor, Dr. Peter
Bales, regularly sparks discussion about
the election, recent chaotic debate, and
the growing uncertainty about COVID,
especially now that President Trump
has tested positive for the virus.
“The speed of the news cycle has
served to drive home points I made
to my students earlier in the semester:
Follow current events, develop
informed opinions and vote your voice.”
Queensborough’s student body
has roots in 127 countries of origin,
with 78 native languages represented.
Many are the first in their family to
attend college.
“Ou r s t u d e nt s c o m e t o
Queensborough from all over the
world, eager to learn about
America’s system of government,
the Constitution of the United States
and the Declaration of Independence.”
Astoria
Sunnyside
Maspeth
Whitestone
Forest Hills Hollis
Forest Park
Fresh Meadows
Queens
Bayside
Flushing
Jackson Heights
Jamaica
H
Bales, a resident of Long Island’s
Nor th Shore, has taught at
Queensborough since 2000. His
courses taught include ‘American
Government and Politics’, and
‘Recent American History’. As with
everyone else, the virus has turned
his life upside down; although
distance learning, he explained,
has had some surprising advantages.
“Once I learned the new formats
and dynamics, I was able to
structure the classes in a non-
traditional (asynchronous) way so
that students are able to do their
work without “attending class” at a
specific time. This is actually more
efficient, especially for the writing
intensive class.”
Bales studied at Northwestern
University, then received an M.A.
in from Long Island University. He
obtained his doctorate from the
State University of New York at
Stony Brook.
He is also an accomplished
comedian, who has performed
stand-up comedy for over 30 years,
combining factual, humorous takes
on U.S. history at countless comedy
clubs, corporate functions, and
colleges across the country. He
has also appeared on a variety
of networks, including Comedy
Central, Lifetime, FOX, A&E, VH1,
MTV, and SiriusXM.
Nowadays, he performs Zoom
shows. “It’s like performing in a
hermetically sealed box,” he said.
“I am a very positive person by
nature and I remind my students –
and myself – that this is not the Civil
War, not the Depression or World War
II. Democracy is messy. We’ve been
in difficult political times before and
we will move forward.”
“And we can help steer that ship
forward by voting. My message to
my students is this:
Make up your own mind for
yourself and vote. It is the least you
can do for your country.”
Bales will provide live commentary
and analysis on election night,
November 3, on Queens Public
Television (QPTV).
Registration deadlines Online: Oct. 9
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 9 In
person: Oct. 9
Absentee ballot deadlines
Request: Received by Oct. 27
Return by mail: Postmarked by
Nov. 3 Return in person: Nov. 3 by
9:00 p.m.
Early voting
October 24-Nov. 1, but dates and
hours may vary based on where you live
Vote Your Voice
Dr. Peter Bales, Assistant Professor,
Political Science, Queensborough
Community College
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