By Emily Carson
News Editor
Several clubs are holding voter registration drives on campus next week, in an effort to get students to register and participate in November’s presidential election.
College Democrats and Republicans, Black Student Union (BSU), Model U.N. and Residence Life are running the drives, according to Dr. Benjamin Gross, visiting assistant professor of sociology, who is overseeing the event.
“All of the groups involved recognize the importance of this election, and have each taken their own initiative to register young voters,” Gross said.
Registration forms can be found on the internet, but members of the clubs will be setting up registration tables around campus to make sure they are filled out correctly and to address frequently asked questions, said Gross.
“The forms are fairly self-explanatory and only take a few moments to fill out,” Gross said. “It requires no money or special identification, so there are virtually no obstacles in place for people to exercise their duty to vote in the election.”
Registration tables will be set up from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1 and Wednesday, Oct. 3 in the Hickey Dining Hall. There will also be tables set up during the same times on Tuesday, Oct. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 4 in the Reilly Center.
Those involved are urging students to register.
“This is a very crucial election, both presidentially and congressionally,” Ryan DeOrdio, co-president of the College Democrats, said. “College students truly make a difference.”
Ashley Oliver, co-president of the College Republicans, is also looking forward to the event.
“This is a great opportunity to work with other groups on a non-partisan basis to serve the greater good of our student population,” she said. “Voting is an important right that we hold as Americans and we hope that we can provide people with a great opportunity to do so.”
Gross agreed.
“It is important for students to pay attention to politics and participate,” he said. “We sometimes forget the college experience is as much about becoming a caring and actively engaged citizen as it is to gain professional socialization for a future career.”
Gross hopes that many students will take advantage of this opportunity.
“As far as I am concerned, even one new voter would be a success from my viewpoint, but hopefully we will get more than that,” he said.
Gross said the members of the clubs are who are really responsible for making this possible.
“All of the groups involved recognize the importance of this election, and have each taken their own initiative to register young voters,” he said. My role has mainly been about trying to coordinate these activities here on campus to reach as many students as we can before registration ends on Oct. 12.”
carsonek10@bonaventure.edu
