2008 Woodie Awards
Meeting will plan how to educate college voters
Kenneth Long
Issue date: 7/23/08 Section: News
The upcoming presidential election has already been unprecedented, with fierce primaries and history-making candidates.
SIUE will try to make sure students are informed on the issues and encourage students to vote, starting with a brainstorming meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Morris University Center's International Room.
Suzanne Kutterer-Siburt, Kimmel Leadership Center's assistant director, said the meeting is open to any who wish to attend, either as observers or participants in the discussion.
"We want to figure out what we can do to get students involved in the vote," said Kutterer-Siburt.
Student Body President Dominique Majors said Student Government would be very involved with this groundbreaking election.
"Here's an election where a black candidate has a good chance at winning," Majors said. "This election is history in the making, and Student Government will be at the forefront."
Possible guests at the meeting include various representatives from campus organizations and departments, as well as political science professors from greater St. Louis area colleges.
Nichole Butler, Student Government External Affairs Committee member, said some of the issues that will impact voting at SIUE deal not only with getting students out to vote, but making sure that students know how to vote.
"Students need to have some convictions behind their votes," Butler said.
During the 2004 election, a program called "Feel the Beat, Get the Vote" helped surface issues associated with voting at SIUE, including absentee ballots for students who couldn't make it to their home district to vote or problems with voting districts, Kutterer-Siburt said.
"The voting line ran directly through campus," Kutterer-Siburt said. "Roommates were having to go to different voting polls miles apart."
With the largest admitted freshmen class in the university's history, Butler said this would most likely be the biggest number of voters ever on campus.
Butler said the ways politicians are reaching voters has changed dramatically with the introduction of candidates using profile pages on Facebook and Myspace.
"This will be the first real Internet election," Butler said.
Programs and meetings this fall include open forums with representatives from different political parties, information booths and voter registration tables.
Kutterer-Siburt said anyone with ideas or questions about the upcoming election and voting at SIUE should contact her at 650-2686 or visit the Kimmel Leadership Center for more information.
SIUE will try to make sure students are informed on the issues and encourage students to vote, starting with a brainstorming meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Morris University Center's International Room.
Suzanne Kutterer-Siburt, Kimmel Leadership Center's assistant director, said the meeting is open to any who wish to attend, either as observers or participants in the discussion.
"We want to figure out what we can do to get students involved in the vote," said Kutterer-Siburt.
Student Body President Dominique Majors said Student Government would be very involved with this groundbreaking election.
"Here's an election where a black candidate has a good chance at winning," Majors said. "This election is history in the making, and Student Government will be at the forefront."
Possible guests at the meeting include various representatives from campus organizations and departments, as well as political science professors from greater St. Louis area colleges.
Nichole Butler, Student Government External Affairs Committee member, said some of the issues that will impact voting at SIUE deal not only with getting students out to vote, but making sure that students know how to vote.
"Students need to have some convictions behind their votes," Butler said.
During the 2004 election, a program called "Feel the Beat, Get the Vote" helped surface issues associated with voting at SIUE, including absentee ballots for students who couldn't make it to their home district to vote or problems with voting districts, Kutterer-Siburt said.
"The voting line ran directly through campus," Kutterer-Siburt said. "Roommates were having to go to different voting polls miles apart."
With the largest admitted freshmen class in the university's history, Butler said this would most likely be the biggest number of voters ever on campus.
Butler said the ways politicians are reaching voters has changed dramatically with the introduction of candidates using profile pages on Facebook and Myspace.
"This will be the first real Internet election," Butler said.
Programs and meetings this fall include open forums with representatives from different political parties, information booths and voter registration tables.
Kutterer-Siburt said anyone with ideas or questions about the upcoming election and voting at SIUE should contact her at 650-2686 or visit the Kimmel Leadership Center for more information.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Bill Jamison
posted 7/23/08 @ 12:16 PM CST
Wow, HISTORY is being made! A BLACK man is running! And we all KNOW how qualified HE is. But then we ARE in Illinois and qualifications really don't count as long as you're a guilt ridden ultra liberal. (Continued…)
Adam H
posted 7/23/08 @ 1:43 PM CST
I won't be able to attend the meeting, however I'd suggest using the Alestle to highlight a particular political issue each newspaper issue. Give each candidate's (INCLUDING the libertarian, green, constitutional, etc party) position as well as some student views and even from faculty, if allowed. (Continued…)
radtec
posted 7/23/08 @ 1:52 PM CST
Student Body President Dominique Majors said Student Government would be very involved with this groundbreaking election.
"Here's an election where a black candidate has a good chance at winning," Majors said. (Continued…)
Post a Comment