If you do not vote, you do not count, claims the new Registered Student Organization YouthVote.
Freshman Alex Goode, YouthVote founder, said the apolitical group has been formulated with one main goal in mind - to get students engaged in politics.
Goode said many issues important to college students are left untouched by politicians. The low voting rate among college students deems them unworthy of seeking support from and thus bills for young people are passed in favor of legislation aimed at other social groups with higher voting rates.
This problem came to the attention of a small group of political science majors who decided to take action.
"My political science professor, James Magee, inspired me with the idea that things in Washington would be different if young people voted," Goode said.
During the Fall Semester, Goode said he started talking with other like-minded people and together with sophomores Emily Manz and Marc Guzman, he began the process of getting their club recognized by the university's Student Centers.
Manz said last week the group officially became an RSO; however, the process was not easy.
"We had to redefine ourselves," Manz said. "Initially the Student Center said that our sole purpose of promoting voting and voter registration wasn't enough, as other clubs already do that."
YouthVote expanded on their initial agenda to include political education. As stated in their newly ratified constitution, they will "promote and encourage youth participation in the political process through education, mobilization and the advocacy of youth activism."
Right now, however, the group wishes to focus on student voter registration, especially absentee voters. Manz, who is from Connecticut, said absentee registration is not very hard but is a pain to do. Many students on campus, despite wanting to vote, do not have the time or the resources to do it, she said.
In order to fix this problem, YouthVote plans on staffing kiosks at the Trabant and Perkins Student Centers as well as having registration tables at dining halls. There, students will be able to fill out registration forms which will then be sent to State Registration offices.
Members of YouthVote believe apart from their educational program, the fact that they are bipartisan in their views is a clear advantage over other clubs such as College Democrats or College Republicans.
Manz said the club has both liberal and conservative members. All issues pertaining to club action are first diligently discussed with all political views clearly presented.
"Even during the creation of our club, promotional posters we used very simple catch phrases like, 'Are you interested in immigration and social security, et cetera' " she said. "When we mentioned global warming, we presented it as climate change. These kinds of terms have no spin so everything is politically balanced."
According to Professor Mathew Weinert, who is currently the club's faculty adviser, YouthVote's apolitical stance is a very positive quality of the group. Some students receive quite passively their political opinions from their parents and families. Others remain undecided. Both groups undergo a process of self-discovery and learning that includes among other things the discovery of one's political voice, he said.
"College is all about self-discovery and learning. For some this is an easy task, for others, it is fraught with anxiety," Weinert said. "I often hear students justify their non-participation in class discussion based on their lack of knowledge. I think this strikes at the heart of discovery. Students try on different political voices, seek out information, attempt to make informed decisions, and consequently create a political identity."
Weinert said it is YouthVote's belief that only an apolitical group on campus can help students navigate this process by reducing the anxiety associated with political exploration. Other groups on campus associated with dominant political parties may appear intimidating to political newcomers.
Sophomore Paul Rutz, College Democrats treasurer, said he disagrees with Weinert's assessment. He said there are no political organizations that are truly apolitical.
"On campus, there are organizations that are not affiliated with a party but remain very obviously partisan," Rutz said. "For example, Whirled Peas and Students for Democracy are very liberal. And these groups don't discuss politics at their meetings."
Junior Alyssa Koser, the events coordinator for the College Democrats, said their meetings are open to everyone - one does not have to be a democrat to attend College Democrat functions. She said she does not believe many people could be easily intimidated to change their personal views that shape their political affiliations.
"I was part of an apolitical group early on, but it's very hard to be in a non-partisan group," Koser said. "YouthVote's initial creation will help them garner members, but will later hinder their actions as students usually join to support a certain cause. Before the November elections they will have voter registration, but what will they do later?"
Matz said voter registration will surely drop after the presidential elections next semester, but believes the group will change their focus to their education campaign.
Weinert said voting is not equated to active engagement in politics. He said he believes YouthVote will be able to get students to participate in campaigns and rallies as well as city council meetings.
Goode said he hopes to spark political involvement within the student body.
"We will not sit around and do nothing," he said. "We will put people out there. We will reach out to the student - energize and inspire them."
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