Let’s talk voting and civic engagement

Graphic art featuring the United States of America flag waving in the wind behind an outline of the US with a constitutional building with an overlay of a felt tip pen

By Sarah Shoaf, Staff Writer

Students looking to learn more about civic engagement can check out Voter Registration Day and Constitution Day events, both happening on Governors State University’s (GovState) campus this month.

As communities face various challenges today, these events, organized by Drs. Fatima Sattar and Jayne Goode in the College of Arts and Sciences, offer a space for students to seek resources on how they can get civically engaged and to hear from others on important topics concerning the country today.

Voter Registration Day

Like its name suggests, Voter Registration Day is all about voting and learning how to register to vote. Held on Tuesday, September 15 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Lakeside Lounge, this event will offer voter education, trivia with prizes, and free button-making.

Since 2020, voter participation among young people has declined after a continual increase since 2012 with racial minorities having lower turnout rates than majority students, shared Dr. Goode, Professor of Communication Studies and Director of the Basic Course for the Communication Program.

Events like this one are part of the University’s civic engagement initiatives to encourage students to get involved and build skills to engage others in effective and constructive dialogue.

Constitution Day

Recognized on September 17, Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, as noted by the National Archives.

At GovState, there will be a Constitution Day: The Republic Endures panel discussion on the State of the Union on Thursday, September 17 from 10 – 11:15 a.m. in Sherman Hall.

The panel will feature experts in political science and government including GovState’s own Dr. Nicole Warmington-Granston, Associate Professor of Political Science; Jonathan Cooper, grad student and President of Kaleidoscope; and Emmanual Lopez, Director of Latinx Resource Center and Undocumented Student Liaison; as well as University Park Mayor Joseph Roudez III.

Topics to be discussed range from the constitutionality of war, citizenship, and voting rights to access and rights to education and immigrant rights—reflecting the complex questions confronting the nation and directly impacting vulnerable communities. Light refreshments will also be served.

Considering the challenges the country faces, this event encourages dialogue on complex civic topics, shared Dr. Sattar, Assistant Professor of Sociology.

“It also brings our diverse campus community together in one space to help us practice pluralism by having a respectful dialogue, relating across differences and cooperating for the common good—to understand and grapple with the current state of the union and constitutionality of issues impacting our world, underserved populations, and the collective well-being of our campus community.”

Both events are funded through the Bridging Differences Together Pluralism Grant.