What We’re Reading: CVP’s College Students and Voting report

It’s been 42 years since the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 with the 26^th Amendment, yet challenges to student participation in the voting process are still prevalent.  To mark this anniversary, Campus Vote Project, a project of the Fair Elections Legal Network (and an ADP partner organization!), released “College Students and Voting: A Campus Vote Project Perspective.” The report details the challenges students faced and some of the ways those challenges were overcome in 2012. In the report, Campus Vote Project provides specific examples of some of the creative approaches from last year and what can be expected in 2013.

Over the past year Campus Vote Project has worked with administrators and student organizations on college campuses throughout the country to help students overcome a variety of barriers that often discourage them from voting. Through this experience, the project observed several trends in the student voting experience.

In 2012, young adults, ages 18-29, made up almost 19% of the electorate. While this is a slight increase from 2008, when students move to a new community to attend college they often face obstacles to voting that can drive down participation. These include:

• Not knowing voter registration rules and deadlines,
• Not having acceptable ID for voter registration or voting purposes,
• Confusion about where to vote,
• Lack of transportation to the polls, and
• Election officials or poll workers who are unaware or unsympathetic to student voting challenges.

In addition to new laws in 2011 and 2012, intimidation from elected officials and dissemination of incorrect information created barriers for students.

To overcome these challenges in 2012, students, administrators, faculty, voting rights advocates, and others worked together to educate students and provide information on deadlines, where to vote, and making sure they had the proper information so they were able to cast their ballot.

A copy of the report can be found here: http://bit.ly/ZNL46w

For more information go to: www.campusvoteproject.org

8 Myths about CIRCLE’s NSLVE: Has Your Campus Signed Up?

Back in November we shared information on this blog about CIRCLE’s new National Study on Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE) in this blog post. A number of ADP campuses have since signed up to participate in this free study (no survey completion required). The deadline to participate is March 15, but ADP campuses are being given a one-week extension until March 22!

CIRCLE has revised their FAQ – it’s still long, but it’s clear.  And they’ve streamlined the process, recommending that campuses sign up for the basic study before the March 15 deadline, and then worry about whether they want to participate in a special study or tailor the data fields considered.

CIRCLE also contacted campuses to learn what barriers might prevent their participation.  Based on those responses, they are doing some “myth-busting.”  Here are a few things that CIRCLE heard, and their response to these concerns:

We don’t have time/don’t want to run another survey or assessment.

You don’t have to!  This is NOT a survey.

We don’t want to send CIRCLE our student list.

You don’t.  You send the authorization form to the National Clearinghouse, which already has your list, and they add voting records, de-identify it, and send it to us.

The system seems to protect student privacy.  Does it really?

It’s hard not to say to everyone, “trust us!”  But we worked hard with FERPA lawyers up and down the east coast, and it took us nearly four months to get it right. We don’t want to know who your students are or how an individual voted.  We want to study aggregate rates and patterns and give campuses interesting data..

We need IRB approval.

We can’t speak for individual campuses, but only one campus so far has felt the need to seek an exemption from their IRB.  Why?  Because CIRCLE will be working from de-identified lists. Reports contain aggregate data, not student lists (de-identified or not).

It’s hard to figure out who should sign the form.

Here’s who can sign: presidents, provosts, vice presidents, institutional researchers, and enrollment officers.  We’re keeping track of who signs most, and right now, it’s a dead heat between student affairs officers and institutional researchers.

We don’t want to deal with it now.  We’ll wait for the next round.

Campuses won’t get 2012 numbers for comparison if they wait.  It’s the comparisons with 2014 and 2016 that will make this information really valuable.

March 15 is too soon.  We can’t pull it off.

You have plenty of time  to download the form, find the right person to sign it, and follow the instructions for submission on the bottom.  The average turnaround, based on downloads-to-submission data, is three days. And ADP campuses are being given an extension until March 22!

We can’t just sign this.  We have to read everything and understand it.  And it’s complicated, and no one has the time.

Join an upcoming info session.  There’s one a week, and they run around 30 minutes, give or take a few.  Or email Nancy Thomas (nancy dot thomas at tufts dot edu) with questions. She’s happy to chat with campuses one-on-one.

We the People Interview Series: Interview with Michelle Corkins

Interviewed by Stephanie South, Program Associate, AASCU

As part of the Civic Agency initiative, we are conducting a special “We the People” interview series. In this series, we interview intriguing people with different perspectives on the “We the People” phase of our work in ADP.

Michelle Corkins was born and raised on a farm in central Kansas; she was very active in her church, a member of the local 4-H club, and a record-holding athlete at the high school.  After high school she attended college at Emporia State University (ESU), in Emporia, Kansas.  Her college experience was “pretty vanilla” as she describes it—

I changed my major a few times and finally graduated in 2011 with a BS in Business Marketing.  Throughout college I worked part-time at a retail store and volunteered in my spare time with various non-profit organizations.  Knowing I wanted to start my career in a bigger city, I packed up all my belongings and moved to Denver, Colorado, just two weeks after graduation.

Corkins first became involved with the American Democracy Project through Dr. Rob Catlett’s macroeconomics class.  Dr. Catlett – ESU’s ADP Campus Coordinator – encouraged his students to take part in an online Twitter debate during President Obama’s State of the Union address in 2010.  This was Corkins’ first experience with Twitter and her first time watching the State of the Union.  She thought Twitter was the perfect format for students to debate because of the limited characters allowed in a tweet—it forced them to carefully craft their responses.  Corkins has continued to join ESU students in Twitter debates during SOTU addresses and the 2012 Presidential debates because she believes these Twitter debates are a great way to get young people involved and aware of what’s going on in politics. 

 

 SS: Michelle, I understand you just finished working for President Obama’s re-election campaign. What lead you there, and what did you do for the campaign?

MC:  Oddly enough, a bad day at work!  Having moved to Denver a year prior, I was still establishing a friend base—read as: I didn’t have many friends to call on after a bad day at the office.  I was following the campaign on Facebook and saw a post about canvassing in your neighborhood.  I have always found joy in volunteer work and saw this as a great opportunity to get involved in my community and meet people with likeminded values.  The next morning, I attended my first campaign event, and within the month, I had taken on a leadership role as the Neighborhood Team Leader (NTL).  As an NTL I was responsible for recruiting volunteers for my neighborhood; planning and producing events; and training and managing volunteers, phone banks, and neighborhood canvassing.  I spent my weekends from May-November canvassing (going door-to-door) in my neighborhood to update voter registers, talk to undecided voters, and remind voters who received mail-in ballots to send them in.  Week nights were spent in the field office running phone banks and helping out the field organizers in whatever ways needed.  Little did I know when I signed up for that first Saturday canvass that volunteering on the campaign would become almost like a second job!

SS: As an undergraduate, what were you involved with on campus? How did those things influence the path you took after graduation?

MC:  I wish I could say I was more involved on campus during college.  I would attend campus events but was not active with any campus organizations outside of class.  I did, however, volunteer my time off campus.  Primarily I volunteered with a nonprofit organization (NPO) that lead violence prevention education in local schools.  Seeing the difference this program was making in the lives of young people sparked a passion within me for NPO work.  My career goal became to work for a NPO and make a difference in my community.  Since graduation I have been working to pursue that goal!

SS: Coolest memory from the campaign trail?

MC: Well, I did get to meet the President (more on that later).  But when I look back at my time on the campaign, it’s not the first thing that comes to mind.  I would have to say the coolest part of being involved in the campaign was all the people I met along the way.  I met tons of great people in my neighborhood and on the campaign; we made phone-banking, canvassing, and campaign work fun!  I registered some first-time voters and had great conversations with undecided voters.  Election night was spent at a watch party with my fellow volunteers—seeing Colorado’s results come in was pretty exciting!  All of our hard work had paid off, and that was the most rewarding part!  Lots of tears were shed, lots of hugs were shared, and all sorts of cheering and celebrating.  All these people I met along the way became my “Obama family.”

Meeting the President was pretty amazing, I can’t deny that.  I was honored to find out I was selected to meet him.  Again, I got to meet more great volunteers because of this experience.  While we waited on the President to arrive we chatted about what we would say to him, passed around a mirror to make sure we all looked perfect, and fed off each other’s excitement!  I was surprised that I was not star-struck when I met him—he was just a regular guy.  I like to say the experience was like meeting up with your uncle; it felt comfortable and easy going.  When I introduced myself he replied with, “Michelle, I’m quite fond of that name.”  Given how much I admire Michelle Obama, this was pretty epic!  Knowing where his grandmother was from I shared with him that I grew up in the next town over.  He smiled and said that we could be cousins!  Our picture was taken, and we were ushered on.  The whole encounter lasted less than a minute.  From there we were taken into the auditorium to hear the President speak about women’s issues.  After meeting the President and hearing him speak live I was even more proud to be volunteering on his campaign.

SS: Biggest lesson learned?

MC:  As I prepared to graduate college and looked to start my career, I always said I wanted to work with a nonprofit organization, and that has remained my primary focus post-graduation as I job hunt.  Volunteering on the campaign proved to me that community organizing and NPO work is truly my calling.  While I may have to work in other areas in the meantime, I know in my heart that I am meant for the nonprofit world.

SS: What’s next for you?

MC:  Currently? Planning a trip to Washington DC for the Inauguration!

SS: What advice do you have for young people regarding civic engagement and political involvement? Why do you think it is so important?

MC:  Look at what is important to you; figure out what makes you think, “This cause is too important for me NOT to get involved!”  Tap into that passion and find a cause that supports it.  We’ve all heard the Gandhi quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”  Change starts with people like you and me; we have to get involved if we want to see change.  No matter the scope of that change, what is important is that you get involved.

 

Following this interview, Michelle informed us of some more exciting news. Michelle and her parents had planned a trip to DC for the Inauguration.  In preparation, her mother, who recently retired, had been researching what kind of events the trio could get access to. Each of them signed up to volunteer for Inauguration events, anticipating that their chances of getting selected were minimal. However, Michelle has been selected to serve the President at the Staff Ball on tonight, January 22, 20123, in Washington, D.C. She had to extend her travel dates but is thrilled at the opportunity, especially because she realized she may have the chance to meet Michelle Obama.

 

 

What We’re Reading: Circle Working Paper #75

By Stephanie South, Program Associate, AASCU

To coincide with its recent announcement regarding the formation of a nonpartisan and scholarly Commission on Youth Voting & Civic Knowledge, CIRCLE has re-released a November 2012 summary of existing research entitled, “Voting Laws, Education, and Youth Civic Engagement: A Literature Review.”

This working paper serves as an example of the kind of research CIRCLE will provide to the Commission and the public. Sample of findings include:

• Civic education boosts knowledge and engagement.
• Election officials and agencies may be effective civic educators.
• Making registration and voting more convenient has a modest impact on turnout.

For more information on the commission and updates on its work, click here.

CIRCLE announces new National Study on Learning, Voting, and Engagement

By Stephanie South, Intern, American Democracy Project

The election is over, and by all accounts, young people turned out to vote at higher rates—at least 1% higher—than in 2008. We’re energized by our member campuses’ dedication, from registering and mobilizing voters to hosting mock debates and watch parties. Looking ahead to the next election, the American Democracy Project is already discussing how we’re going to support student political knowledge and engagement.

So we’re particularly excited to share with campuses a new project that offers colleges and universities the chance to measure student registration and voting rates and to study the effectiveness of educational programs designed to increase civic learning and engagement in democracy. ADP member campuses are invited to participate in  NSLVE—the National Study on Learning, Voting, and Engagement—a new research initiative designed by our friends at the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).

Despite the fact that voting is a fundamental indicator of civic engagement, there have been no reliable ways to measure student voting rates. NSLVE fills that gap. It’s free and carefully designed to ensure student privacy. For more information and to sign up to be part of NSLVE, visit its site here. This FAQ page may also address some of your questions.

Our hope is that all ADP campuses will participate in NSLVE. Not only will it provide a baseline for measuring voter turnout in future years and comparisons among ADP campuses and with non-ADP campuses, but some campuses will be able to participate in tailored studies correlating specific academic programs, courses, and activities with student voting rates. (Note: NSLVE will compile voting rates by institution, study comparisons, and report trends and patterns in aggregate numbers. They may identify your campus as a participating institution, but will not disclose your institution’s data.)

ADP in the News | November 8, 2012 Edition

ADP in the News is a compilation of brief updates about American Democracy Project activities at ADP colleges and universities and is a semi-regular news feature on our blog. Below you will find the latest grouping of this information, with Constitution Day and Election 2012 as the primary focus. Because we are not looking to duplicate posts, if you want to learn more about other Constitution Day and Election 2012 activities, see the respective previous posts or some of our Campus Spotlights.

If you have an ADP event you’d like posted in this format, please email Jen at adp@aascu.org.

- Stephanie South, Intern, American Democracy Project

RIC ADP hosted fall forums on Wikipedia and talk radio

The American Democracy Project (ADP) at Rhode Island College and NBC 10 recently hosted a panel of experts in the fields of politics and communication to explore the inner workings of what goes on before, during, and after debates. The panel, titled “Political Campaign Debates: What Wikipedia Won’t Tell You,” took place on September 13. Topics discussed included the importance of political debates, how candidates stay fresh, “spin” in the media after a debate, and how debates will change in the future. Read more on this here.

Local media personalities also squared off on October 17 for a panel discussion the premise of whether talk radio is still relevant in Rhode Island politics. The RIC ADP panel, “Politics in Rhode Island: Does Talk Radio Still Rule?” was the latest in a series of election-season events put together by communications Profs. Valerie Endress and Kay Israel, and was moderated by RIC ADP partner NBC-10’s Gene Valicenti. Read more on this here.

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MTSU played host to state’s largest naturalization ceremony

In the year of the 225th anniversary of The Constitution’s signing, Middle Tennessee State University acted as a federal courthouse as 300 new citizens were naturalized on September 17. The ceremony was a collaborative effort conducted through the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the American Democracy Project. Read more on this here.

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Justice Alan Page spoke on Constitution Day at ISU

The American Democracy Project introduced Illinois State University to Justice Alan C. Page, Minnesota’s first African-American Supreme Court Justice and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame, in hopes to educate students with civic engagement on Constitution Day. ADP hosts speakers annually to remind students the importance of the Constitution. Prior to speaking, Page explained that he would begin his discussion by encouraging students to become involved and make a change in addressing different issues.  Read more on this here.

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ADP John Saltmarsh Award for Emerging Leaders in Civic Engagement Winner Emily Janke at UNCG’s Institute for Community & Economic Engagement wins national recognition

Emily Janke was awarded the Early Career Research Award from the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement at the association’s annual conference in Baltimore. Janke is special assistant at the helm of the Institute for Community & Economic Engagement, which is part of University of North Carolina Greensborough’s Office of Research & Economic Development. Earlier this year, she won the John Saltmarsh Award for Emerging Leaders in Civic Engagement, an award established by the American Democracy Project. Read more on this here.

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Lander University students participated in mock presidential debate

Political science students portraying Team Obama and Team Romney staged a mock presidential debate at Lander University on October 9, an event that drew 500 spectators to Lander’s Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center Auditorium. The debate was sponsored by the American Democracy Project and featured 12 students in the presidential campaigns. Read more about this here.

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Student political party chapters saw resurgence at JSU this election season

As part of the nationwide American Democracy Project, Jacksonville State University hosted a debate-watch party for the second presidential debate. About 250 students showed up for the event on a Tuesday night, said Lori Owens, head of the political science department and campus coordinator for ADP at JSU. Read more on this here.

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FHSU American Democracy Project, Eagle Communications present ‘Eye of the Tiger’

Eight students have been given portable video cameras to record the life of Fort Hays State University students in Hays and their hometown communities. Eye of the Tiger, a civic journalism site, is a cooperative project between the FHSU American Democracy Project’s eCitizenship initiative and Eagle Communications.  Read more about this here.

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UWO’s ADP hosted community-building contest

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s American Democracy Project recently sponsored its second Creating a Stronger Community Contest. Oshkosh alumna Dani Stolley ’97, founder of Growing Oshkosh, was one of four recent winners of that contest, which is designed to “generate excitement and action around community-building projects.” Read more about this here.

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Georgia College plans series of forums about higher education

Gregg Kaufman recently announced that Georgia College will be taking part in the Shaping Our Furure national conversation about the public purposes of higher education.  In an article posted October 18, he describes the Georgia College American Democracy Project and the series of forums that the project will host. Read more on this here.

The American Democracy Project at Georgia College also held its 2012 mock election on October 23-24, gathering votes from 770 participants during the two-day voting period. Participants were allowed to vote on two matters – the first being their choice for president, and the second being the issue that they believed would dominate the 2012 election. Read more on this and get the results here.

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ISU’s ADP hosted hundreds for the final Presidential Debate Watch Party and Social Issues Fair

Many more students than expect turned out for a public screening of the final presidential debate at Illinois State University. The viewing was hosted by ISU’s American Democracy Project and the Student Government Association. Organizers said they were shocked so many people showed up, especially since the third debate focused on foreign policy, not the economy. Read more on this here.

ISU’s Student Government Association and the American Democracy Project also surpassed their goal to register 100 to 200 students to vote with an estimated number of over 500 students who visited one of the voter registration booths on during three days in late September. Read more on this here.

On Monday, October 29 ISU’s ADP and School of Communication co-sponsored a Social Issues Fair that provided all persons in attendance with current information on a wide variety of issues and problems that are sensitive to our nation. Presenters prepared short speeches to deliver to those in attendance. There was a wide range of topics at this year’s fair, including discussions of employment, the national debt, funding for education, health care, renewable energy, and urban education. Read more on this here.

President Obama not only won re-electon on November 6, but at the end of October, he also won an ISU Presidential Straw Poll conducted by the ISU American Democracy Project. A total of 243 students from ISU, Heartland Community College and Illinois Wesleyan University were asked several questions about the race. President Obama won with 57 percent of the vote. Read more about this here.

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“Freedom Sings: Music that Matters” at WKU

On Monday, October 22, Western Kentucky University featured a live musical, multi-media presentation celebrating the First Amendment and music:   Music subjected to censorship or bans.  Music with a positive impact.  Music that moved generations and social causes.  Music that altered the social fabric of the United State through a call for change. It was produced by the First Amendment Center and sponsored by the School of Journalism & Broadcasting; Department of Political Science, Political Engagement Project, and the Institute for Citizenship and Social Responsibility. Read more on this here.

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IUSB Constitution Day celebrated freedom and registered voters on Constitution Day and hosted a variety of other politically engaging projects

Because less than half of Americans under 25 voted in the 2008 election, according to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), the American Democracy Project (ADP) of Indiana University South Bend celebrated Constitution Day with a variety of activities, including registering voters of all ages. Read more on this here.

On Monday, October 22, the Indiana University South Bend River Crossing lodge was packed with students lining up for pizza and politics. The event marked the third and final presidential debate of the 2012 election season, and the IUSB Political Science Club and American Democracy Project offered a place for students and community members to gather, watch the debate, and enjoy some free food. Read more on this here.

Indiana University South Bend’s American Democracy Project and Political Science Club also co-sponsored a debate with the League of Women Voters of South Bend for the 2nd District U.S. House race on October 28. Read more on this here.

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First Annual Cabrillo College Town Hall event aimed to educate

Cabrillo College’s Commitment to Democracy, in partnership with the American Democracy Project and sponsored by the Associated Students of Cabrillo College (ASCC), held its First Annual Cabrillo College Town Hall Meeting on the afternoon of Monday, October 22. The meeting aimed to discuss the upcoming election, as well as the various California propositions that will be on the November ballot. Read more on this here.

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Award-Winning Political Reporter Tim Skubick to discuss November election issues at Ferris

Veteran political reporter Tim Skubick helped voters navigate the 2012 Election during a presentation Tuesday, October 23 at Ferris State University. The Emmy-winning journalist, the state’s longest-serving state capitol correspondent, shared his insider’s take on the November 6 Presidential Election and six Michigan ballot proposals. Read more about this here.

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University of Nebraska at Kearney Sponsored “Slacktivist or Activist” Event Regarding Social Media

The American Democracy Project sponsored “Social Media and Civic Engagement: Slacktivist or Activist” Wednesday, October 24 at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. “The overall goal of this event is to facilitate a discussion about social media and its effects on our society,” said James Young, assistant professor of criminal justice and social work. Read more on this here.

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ESU’s ADP chapter piques political interest

Rob Catlett, director of Emporia State University’s American Democracy Project chapter, professor of economics, and director of the Center for Economic Education, said the ESU chapter has received a lot of attention because the political discussions they have through their eCitizenship program on Twitter are known for their atmosphere of politeness. The program had four Twitter debate sessions over the last month. There were three separate debates during each session – one with only ESU students, one with Northern Georgia University students and several other schools and one between all chapters of the ADP.  Read more on this here.

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American Democracy Project launched first ILSTU Views kiosk

Illinois State’s American Democracy Project launched a project that gives its students a new way to talk about hot topics while also improving their critical thinking skills and encouraging them  to assess and interact with important social issues. ILSTU Views is an innovative Internet and social media tool that could revolutionize civil debate and political communication. It employs digital media displays located around campus, at which students and members of the community will engage in civil discourse by responding to local, national, and global questions. Then, using the touch screen, people can interact with each other by posting comments or liking other people’s comments. This project was made possible by the campus chapter receiving a grant that allowed for the installation of the interactive kiosks. Read more on this here.

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ADP at CAL U presents panel that examines 2012 election results

Just one week after American voters chose their next president, a popular team of political experts will return to Cal U to examine the reasons behind the results. Presented by the American Democracy Project at California University, the program is open to the public. “This is an excellent opportunity to hear national experts discuss the presidential and congressional election outcomes,” said Dr. Melanie Blumberg, a professor in Cal U’s Department of History and Political Science. Read more on this here.

Tag and Share Tomorrow with ADP: Instagram Your Election Day Pics #ADPelect12

By Stephanie South, Intern, American Democracy Project

As The American Democracy Project proudly announced via Facebook and Twitter this morning, you can now find us on Instagram. Be sure to follow @adpaacscu on your Instagram app today because you won’t want to miss how we are celebrating our new social media channel and the 2012 election.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 6, 2012, as you get your democracy on at the ballot boxes, make sure you keep your smartphone, fully-loaded with the Instagram app, ready to go because we want you to tag and share in the name of #ADPelect12. ADP wants to showcase how our member campuses across the country are promoting voting and civic engagement this Election Day, and we are asking you to help by snapping a picture of democracy in action and sharing it via Instagram with the hashtags #ADPelect12 and #ADPcampus. Also, don’t forget to mention your school or ADP (@adpaascu) when you are Instagram-ing your Election Day spirit.

Later this week, we will be picking and announcing our favorites, as well as a reminding you all to visit our #ADPelect12 Instagrid hashtag gallery here to view in full all of the ADP Election Day Instagram pics.

Remember to snag your ADP Election Day Facebook Flare here  and head to the polls tomorrow.

Happy Voting!

Not sure how Instagram works? Check out these quick tips and tricks here.

ADP’s New “I Voted” Facebook “Stickers” — Let everyone know you voted!

By Jen Domagal-Goldman, National Manager, American Democracy Project

This year I voted early — I completed my absentee ballot, in-person in Alexandria, VA where I live — in order to be able to volunteer as a poll worker on Election Day (November 6). By voting early in person, I got to thank the election workers and received an “I voted” sticker to wear with pride.

However, as early voting and vote-by-mail become more available in many states and given the ubiquitous role of social media in our daily lives, AASCU’s American Democracy Project has created an ADP I Voted! “sticker” that you can post as your profile picture on Facebook or other social media. A special thank you to AASCU’s Internet Communications Manager, Ina Soepangkat, for designing this sticker!

Download your very own ADP I Voted sticker here and share it with your friends!

And come Tuesday, November 6th let’s make sure all registered voters exercise their right — and responsibility — to vote as informed, engaged citizens in our democracy!

You’ll find other Voting Resources on the ADP website here.

Campus Spotlight: William Paterson University’s Youth Vote 2K12

Many ADP campuses having voter registration, education and turnout — as well as other political engagement — programs and events being offered this fall. Below you’ll learn about Youth Vote 2012 at William Paterson University. Other campus programs and events will be featured on the blog in upcoming weeks.

Join ADP tonight as we live tweet the Presidential Town Hall debate from 9pm-10:30pm Eastern using #ADPdebate!

Re-posted with permission from: http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/waldron_101012.html?page=all

Opinion: Getting our youth to the ballot box

Tuesday October 9, 2012, 4:13 PM

BY  KATHLEEN WALDRON

The Record

Kathleen Waldron is president of William Paterson University. Send comments to grad@northjersey.com

THE EARLY 20th-century American philosopher and educational reformer John Dewey devoted much of his life’s work to the principle that educational institutions play a critical — even the central — role in fostering a healthy, democratic society. His sentiments, expressed nearly a century ago, still ring true: “The trouble … is that we have taken our democracy for granted; we have thought and acted as if our forefathers had founded it once and for all. We have forgotten that it has to be enacted anew in every generation.”

Public colleges and universities, in particular, play a significant role in preparing each generation of students to become knowledgeable citizens, able to actively engage in community and civic life.

In addition to providing the content knowledge and skills students need to prepare for their lives in the workforce, we have an even greater historic mission: educating our young people so they are informed citizens capable of fully participating in public life. This mission is more important than ever as we approach the 2012 presidential election.

College life exposes students to democracy in action. They are challenged by new thoughts and ideas and must learn to consider and respect multiple opinions and perspectives, both in the classroom and in other campus interactions with their peers. Through participation in a club, student organization or volunteer project, they discover the value of working together for a common goal.

At William Paterson University, we have embraced citizenship and civic engagement as a core value, challenging our students, faculty, staff and alumni to recognize their responsibility to improve the world around them. As part of our university’s core curriculum, our undergraduates are required to take a three-credit course focused on community and civic engagement, providing an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to work on civic and societal issues.

Evolving opportunities

Today’s explosion of information technology — from Facebook to Twitter and YouTube — gives young people new and evolving opportunities to make their voices and opinions heard and, when guided, to engage more fully in public life.

Despite such opportunities, young people still lag behind their older counterparts when it comes to the most foundational and direct way they might have an impact: at the ballot box. Those who are 18 to 29 continue to turn out in lower percentages than those 30 or older.

One-quarter of population

In 2012, 46 million 18- to 29-year-olds are eligible to vote, fully one-quarter of the population. While youth voting has been on the rise in several election cycles, reaching 51 percent during the presidential election in 2008, turnout dipped again in state and gubernatorial elections in 2009 and in the midterm elections in 2010.

Research shows that young people are more likely to register to vote, and to vote on Election Day, when approached by a peer. Through our campus chapter of the American Democracy Project, we have launched a campus- and community-based voter education campaign, and are committed to registering 1,000 new voters ages 18 to 24.

Our student-led Youth Vote 2K12 team reaches out to students on campus, especially in our first-year seminar classes, as well as to students in Paterson high schools to discuss the importance of voting and the power they have to affect the political process.

Young people today face critical issues, including record high unemployment and student debt and health care and environmental worries.

Educating our youth about the power and importance of voting reminds us of John Dewey’s wisdom: Democratic participation is not automatic. It must be taught, and, if our democracy is to thrive, the generational compact must be renewed.

Real-world context

Despite living in a global era, it is in the local and regional arenas where citizens are constituted, problems framed, questions posed and theoretical concepts tested in real-world context and time.

It is crucial for all of us, whether on a college campus or in our communities, to encourage our young people to register to vote and participate in this essential right as an American citizen. The future of our democracy depends on it.

ADP Campus Coordinators Corner: Election-Related Programming

By Gregg Kaufman, ADP Campus Coordinator, Georgia College

Georgia College is located adjacent to Milledgeville’s downtown district. The campus has a spacious “front campus” lawn with mature hardwood trees and a row of historic brick buildings that date back one hundred years and more. In 2008, ADP and Georgia College’s Rhetoric Department co-sponsored a series of debate watches.

We invited citizens to join students, faculty, and staff and bring lawn chairs, snacks, and blankets to watch the first presidential debate on a large screen accompanied by exterior speakers in a quasi-drive-in movie setting. Approximately 150 people attended the event and some remained for a debate debriefing session. Subsequent debate watch events were held in the campus library’s coffee shop.

As the semester begins on many ADP campuses and election-related planning commences, what do you have in mind to engage students in the presidential election and ongoing political engagement?

Please share your plans for voting registration, debate watch, and other events in this quick online survey.

Results will be shared with all ADP Campus Coordinators!

You’ll also find resources related to Elections & Voting here.