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CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Student Government is leading the charge to encourage students to register, vote and become an active participant in their community.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said Political Science Lecturer Tim Allison, J.D., who has been advising the Student Government on their project. “This generation is recognizing that their voices and their votes are crucial to making changes in our country.”
CSUCI’s Student Government is competing in the California College and University Ballot Bowl, a friendly competition set up by the California Students Vote Project, backed by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla in partnership with the California Lieutenant Governor and a coalition of nonprofit organizations.
All California community colleges, universities and private systems are invited to compete to become the campus with the highest percentage of the student body registered to vote.
Courtesy photo.
CSUCI throws it hat into the ring with a four-day campus extravaganza called Civic Engagement Week, which begins Monday, Oct. 15 through Thursday, Oct. 18. CSUCI’s Center for Community Engagement, as well as Student Leadership programs are partnering with Student Government to host the event, which is aimed at getting students to vote and to get involved.
“If young people want things to change in this country, they have to step up and be their own advocate,” Allison said. “If they don’t vote, they are resigned to letting others make decisions for them. Recent elections have shown that races all over the country have been incredibly close. Small groups of people can clearly make a difference as to who gets elected at all levels of government.”
Booths with information on how students can get involved in their communities and how they can register to vote will be set up at strategic locations around campus on Monday and Wednesday. Tuesday is the Constitution Day Carnival, which will last from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CSUCI’s Central Mall.
“There will be food trucks, carnival games and speakers focused on your rights in this country,” said Student Government President Atticus Reyes, 21, a senior History major. “And free ice cream for the first 100 students.”
State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson will be among the speakers on Thursday, which will focus more on civic engagement. There will be 80 of the University’s community partners available to offer literature and provide information on how students can get involved in policy-making and services all around them.
“On a local level, sometimes people feel like they’re powerless,” said Coordinator of Student Leadership Kem French, who is organizing the Thursday event. “Our goal is to hopefully empower students to do something. They may not realize that just getting involved on a local level can give them a deeper understanding of the policies that affect them.”
French said there will be a wealth of literature available on new policies, laws and ordinances on the ballot that will affect students.
Reyes said he knows of many young voters his age who are already passionate about civic involvement and he and the other organizers hope to interest even more, and make a strong showing in the Ballot Bowl.
“There’s this narrative that the younger population doesn’t care or they don’t want to participate,” he said. “That’s detrimental. We need to look at this population as future leaders, and we should be sparking their interest and passion. We need to make our voices be heard. It’s not pro-Democrat or pro-Republican. It’s just pro-democracy.”
The Ballot Bowl winners will be announced by the Secretary of State’s Office on Nov. 14.
About California State University Channel Islands: CSU Channels Islands is reimagining higher education for a new generation and era. We are an innovative higher education institution that enables students to succeed and thrive, serves as an engine for social and economic vitality and provides the intellectual resources necessary for a thriving democracy. With more than 7,000 students, 1,200 employees and 16,000 alumni, CSUCI is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Our strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Connect with and learn more by visiting CSUCI’s Social Media.