Gregory Hamot, a social studies education professor in the UI College of Education and director of the UI Center for Human Rights, is one of the event coordinators. He says this year's conference is especially exciting because it occurs on Election Day.

"Having young Americans not only understand the precious right to political participation, but to also engage in a basic level of participation via a vote, is going to be an extremely powerful experience," Hamot says.

Breakout session topics include “The Gender Gap: Do Candidates for President Care More about Women than Men Voters?” and “The Sound of Democracy: Music, Power, and Political Participation.” Breakout session leaders come from several UI departments as well as the Iowa City Public Library, Amnesty International, and the Iowa United Nations Association.

The first breakout session will be held from 10:15 to 11:05 a.m., the second breakout session will be from 11:10 a.m. to noon, and the final breakout session will be from 12:40 to 1 p.m.

Students will end the day from 1:10 to 1:45 p.m. by voting in their own election based on two very different views of America’s future role in international affairs presented by two debate students from Iowa City West High School.

International Day sponsors include the UI College of Education, The Stanley Foundation, the UI Belin-Blank Center in the UI College of Education, the UI Center for Human Rights in International Programs, and the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

For more information or a full schedule visit www.education.uiowa.edu/services/internationalday.