For proof, look who teaches "Presidential Elections: Strategy and Substance" - a Democrat and a Republican.

Bob Seltzer, the "D," and Roger Livingston, the "R," focus their undergraduate class on the basic strategies of election politics - including message, money and media. Understanding those strategies, they argue, is central to understanding presidential campaigns and American politics.

"Roger and I believe politics is a noble profession," Seltzer said. "The class was designed to be taught by both a Democrat and a Republican so that it would not become an exercise in propaganda."

Even so, political campaigns are inherently partisan. So the syllabus adds this warning to prospective students: "Disagreements should be expected, debates will be required and discussions should get heated."

But the teachers demand that civility prevail when discussing the policies and politics of President Bush, Sen. John Kerry and other candidates.

"There are a number of reasons - truth, political impact, human decency and so on - to say that the president 'misjudged' the situation in Iraq rather than he 'lied' about weapons of mass destruction; there are reasons that John Kerry favors making abortions 'available' rather than that he wants to 'kill babies,' " the instructors write. "Hopefully, we will come to admire the men and women who accept the risks and responsibilities associated with public life."

The Tuesday night class also zeroes in on the campaign strategies of Kerry and Bush rather than the political philosophies of the candidates.

The 59-year-old Seltzer, a wiry man with a startlingly deep voice, has toiled for about 20 years in the political arena. He has filled numerous roles: campaign manager, legislative director and chief of staff to a handful of Democratic U.S. senators. Currently, he is special assistant to Westminster President Michael Bassis.

"It's not just mere politics," Seltzer said. "It matters."

Livingston, 55, is a well-known attorney and former judge. He now is a senior counsel and adviser to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

With a crisp style and an approachable demeanor, Livingston seems the perfect match to Seltzer's "politics matters."

Livingston punctuates his points with "war" stories from the political trenches, with plenty of references to Utah battles.

Seltzer likes to note that not one party has all the answers. "There are good arguments on both sides."

Politics is where many of society's most serious problems are addressed, Seltzer added. "It's not a game. . . . But in some ways, it is a game and people need to understand the rules in order to evaluate ways that politicians try to manipulate and move them."

Livingston said the tag-team teaching approach allows class discussions to be more candid and less combative.

"Students see the two of us and they know that politics, even partisan politics, doesn't need to be divisive," he said.

That is what senior Mary Dirks likes about the class. Its focus on the presidential election piqued her interest, so she signed up.

"I am excited about voting and wanted to know whom I should support," said the 21-year-old business major, who will be casting her second ballot in a presidential election. "Why not learn about the candidates and get credit for something I will be doing anyway."

Dirks' political interest isn't surprising. She is the daughter of Steve Dirks, a former Ogden mayor, and Barbara Dirks, a former Ogden councilwoman.

"Politics run in my veins," Dirks said.

As a final project, students must predict the outcome of this year's presidential chase - not just who will win, but what the Electoral College outcome will be state by state.

Not that the students must correctly pick the next president or which states go red or blue to pass. Instead, their grades will be determined by group presentations and their engagement in class discussions.

Neither Seltzer nor Livingston would venture a guess about the political persuasions of their 15 students. The students don't always say, and the teachers don't ask.

But the students are savvy enough politically to read between the partisan lines.

"We know who's on what side," Dirks said. "But it's all very respectful."

Chris Wharton, for example, is helping state Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, in her re-election bid.

"I appreciate what Bob and Roger bring to the discussions," said Wharton, a junior history and political science major. "It allows for a more balanced analysis of the presidential campaign."

That balance is part of the beauty of the course.

"The class isn't just people having different political points of view," Dirks said. "It's about understanding and being willing to listen to opposing views without being mean or feeling threatened."

sykes@sltrib.com

The instructors

Bob Seltzer, 59 - Worked for Democratic Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan, Brock Adams of Washington, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey.

* Taught and coached debate at the University of Detroit.

* Earned a doctorate in rhetoric and public address from Wayne State University in Michigan.

Roger Livingston, 55 - Served as a judge in Utah's 3rd District Court.

* Senior partner in the private law firm of Livingston, Ward & McPhie.

* Two-term representative in the Utah Legislature and retired colonel, U.S. Army Reserve

* Law degree from the University of Utah