FLEX TIME CLASS OF 2005 SPEAKER SERIES
Expert Pollster Offers Challenges, Questions By Mike Kennedy ’99
S
“How many of you are happy with the choices that you have? How many of you are angry with the choices that
Pause at the correct points.
you have?
Don’t say “um.” Don’t say “I feel.”
“Which of these presidential candi-
Be declarative. Be engaged.
dates describes Courage, Honor, Truth?
into him, he told the boys. And he’s since built an illustrious
Who says Clinton? Who says Trump? “How can you justify Trump engaging in a fight with the former Miss Universe
career on the bedrock of maternal edict.
over her weight? Having Twitter
Today, he’s an expert in communica-
wars with people whom he dislikes?
tion — and one of the most renowned
Challenging a Gold Star family?
and trusted professionals in the field.
“How can you trust Clinton when so
He’s also a famed pollster and a “public
many of the things she’s said have been
opinion guru.”
proven untrue? When what she says and
The 54-year-old is the author of three New York Times bestsellers.
what she does are two different things?” In a two-hour, comedy-filled
He’s conducted more than 100 focus
give-and-take between speaker and
groups for Fox News. He’s advised
audience, Luntz encouraged students
over 50 Fortune 500 companies and
and faculty to challenge him and
CEOs. And he’s hosted a number of
themselves with their answers — and to
prime-time specials during presiden-
annunciate clearly.
tial debates — including last fall’s
More than 40 had their voices
between Hillary Clinton and Donald
heard — and Luntz never let anyone
Trump, which he’s deemed the
off the hook.
worst election (in terms of tone) of his lifetime. Luntz, founder and chairman of Luntz Global: Expert Communication
“It’s not the first question that matters. It’s the second and the third — the follow up,” he said. “When you’re engaging people, in
Strategists, visited the Upper School
terms of communication, the first
in October as part of the Class of 2005
question gives you an idea of who people
Speaker Series — an endowed gift
are. The second and third questions
given by the parents of the Class of
demonstrate that you truly care and
2005 to bring honored and informative
you’re trying to understand.”
speakers to the Brunswick campus. “I’m not an expert in political policy,”
And, to those who haven’t paid attention to this election or bothered
Luntz explained. “I don’t feel I’m fully
to side with one candidate or another,
qualified to give you the answers to all
Luntz expressed genuine concern.
of the issues in this election.” Instead, he unleashed a barrage of questions. “What don’t you like about Clinton?
40 | TIMES
in that conversation?
PEAK IN complete sentences.
Frank Luntz’s mother drilled it all
Frank Luntz engaged more than 40 students throughout his two-hour, interactive presentation — including sophomore Christian Hartch (bottom), senior Nick VanBelle (stage left), and junior Hayden Hoover (stage right).
you talk politics? How do you engage
“Your country matters to you. Your future matters to you. I want you to care, to participate, and to have faith,” he said. “My goal is to make you realize that
What don’t you like about Trump?
this election should matter to you.
“Who here supports Trump and
These decisions will impact you in
your parents support Clinton? What’s
every year of your everyday life from
your conversation like at home when
now into the future.”
OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2017
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2/9/17 8:10 PM