Voter apathy is a problem that runs rampant at college campuses. And it’s a problem that some members of Colgate’s faculty, staff, and student body are looking to eradicate.
A voter registration drive will be launched on campus Wednesday in an effort to get 100 percent of eligible Colgate students signed up to vote.
Tables will be set up in the Coop from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays. Computers will provide access to online voter registration sites, and students will be helped in completing all the necessary information required by their home states.
About 20 people have indicated an interest in committing to the project, which is sponsored by the Center for Outreach, Volunteerism and Education (COVE).
The Progressive Student Network (PSN), a new campus organization aimed at getting various organizations together to educate the campus on key political issues, is the motivating force behind the drive.
‘After learning about these political issues, I hope that students will be more inclined to vote, and thereby take a political stand,’ said senior Lauren Bregman, leader of the PSN.
Faculty, staff members, and students all are involved in the initiative.
‘I want to take an active role in promoting political awareness and involvement in our community,’ said Assistant Dean of Admission Devon Skerritt. ‘People are too detached from political conversation and involvement. People aren’t proactive, but instead reactive, and I want to change young people’s behavior to engagement.’
The registration drive is broken down into three time frames: between Thanksgiving and winter break, between winter break and spring break, and post-spring break.
Senior Polly Morton said, ‘I am involved in the drive because I believe students need to be more involved and aware of our government. After all, we are the future leaders of America.’
Though some admit the group’s goal of getting the entire campus registered to vote seems lofty, they are nonetheless determined to increase the numbers.
‘I [think] the real goal is the desire to see everyone on campus involved and aware of the government and its processes,’ Morton added.
Sophomore Jamie Simchik, a member of the SGA Executive Board, feels voter apathy affects campus-wide votes as well, not just in terms of the national election.
‘We need to make people aware [that their vote counts] and thus motivated, and then the voting will come. People need to feel like their lives are being affected and then they will vote.’
Communications Department
315.228.6637