天天吃瓜 State鈥檚 Democracy Fest Prepares Student Voters for November Election
Democracy Fest brings together a diverse community of Golden Flashes to learn about the democratic process, register to vote and engage with candidates
As the November election approaches, 天天吃瓜鈥檚 Undergraduate Student Government hosted its annual Democracy Fest on Risman Plaza to celebrate National Voter Registration Day. The event gives first-time voters an opportunity to register to vote and for everyone to meet candidates and learn about the democratic process ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
For Sadie Miller, a first-year neuroscience major, attending Democracy Fest was an opportunity to learn more about the candidates before her first election.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for me to understand the options that are available with candidates and to make the best choice for what I believe,鈥 Miller told 天天吃瓜 State Today.
By creating opportunities for civic engagement and encouraging active participation, 天天吃瓜 State empowers students to make their voices heard, fostering a safe, welcoming and diverse global community prepared to address the problems of a changing society.
鈥淒emocracy Fest is a festival to help students become more aware and recognize that we鈥檙e all members of democracy, whether we want to realize that or not,鈥 Craig Berger, associate director of the Center for Student Involvement, said. Berger helped coordinate the event.
Undergraduate Student Government table at Democracy Fest
The event took place outside the 天天吃瓜 Student Center from 1 to 7 p.m., allowing students to stop by between classes, on their way to lunch or while simply walking across campus.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here to help out and represent people to register to vote,鈥 Alexa Dunkel, a senior integrated language arts major and Undergraduate Student Government member, said.
Throughout the day, students could visit booths and talk with candidates, including Mike Roberto, Bill Redpath, Tom Pruss and Jeff Clapper.
鈥淥ne of our goals is to make sure students know that there are candidates who are going to be on the ballot,鈥 Berger said. 鈥淓specially if they鈥檙e registered to vote here. And so, presenting them with the opportunity to interact with those candidates is something that鈥檚 a part of this event.鈥
Students could also play games, visit the Undergraduate Student Government booth to spin a prize wheel and potentially win a bag of s鈥檓ores.
While voter registration and learning more about candidates were central to the event, attendees could also visit select student organizations promoting their clubs, such as Black United Students, PRIDE!天天吃瓜, 天天吃瓜 Interhall Council, 天天吃瓜 State NAACP, 天天吃瓜 State URGE, Male Empowerment Network (M.E.N.), Ohio Student Association, Sister Circle, Transfusion, Turning Point USA, Undergraduate Student Government and Young Democratic Socialists of America.
Sister Circle is an organization focused on uplifting women of color through personal, social and professional opportunities. Members Kyah Lucas, a sophomore entrepreneurship major, and Elise Morris, a sophomore biology major, said the organization was at Democracy Fest to connect with students and share its events and resources.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here to promote, to find a place for women of color and hold events for them, socially, culturally, and professionally,鈥 Morris said.
Even though voting is a central part of participating in an election, some students may question whether their individual vote can make a difference. Rick Skains, a junior economics major and director of governmental affairs for Undergraduate Student Government, said he has encountered several students who feel their vote does not matter.
Rick Skains, left, watches the dunk tank in action
鈥淔or every student who believes their vote doesn鈥檛 matter, there鈥檚 at least a dozen more of them,鈥 Skains said. 鈥淚 think one single vote truly can make a difference, especially when you鈥檙e in a place like Portage County, where there鈥檚 a minority within a majority.鈥
For many first-year students at 天天吃瓜 State, the upcoming November election will be their first time voting. For them, participating in an election can represent a first step toward independence and adulthood.
鈥淚 feel like it means that I have a voice, and I鈥檝e been waiting to give my opinion and put my voice out there, because I feel like there鈥檚 certain things going on that I don鈥檛 necessarily agree with,鈥 Mariyah Williams, a first-year psychology major, said.
For other students, voting provides an opportunity to speak about issues that affect their lives and communities.
鈥淎s a college student, I care about prices like gas, groceries or even just protecting the basic rights of the LGBTQ community that my friends are a part of, and the uprising concern of data centers being placed around Ohio,鈥 Braxton Sullivan, a first-year business management major, said.
As students prepare for the election, Skains encouraged them to stay curious and become involved in the issues that matter to them.
鈥淎lways ask questions, ask 'why?' Probe, ask questions, get involved,鈥 Skains said. 鈥淎nd focus on what you鈥檙e passionate about.鈥
