VCU news

By Dina Weinstein

As National Voter Education Week kicks off this week, VCU Votes – a wide-ranging initiative extending from the classroom to the ballot box – is actively engaging students to participate in the election process this fall.

What began as a student idea has grown into a program with strong institutional support at Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU Votes became a formal course offering through the Department of Political Science in the College of Humanities and Sciences, and the program’s footprint has continued to grow. The VCU Votes student coalition, which is directed by students, focuses on peer programming, and the community council, which includes faculty, staff and students, promotes civic engagement across campus and beyond.

VCU’s Office of Student Leadership and Engaged Learning also has two student fellows this year – in addition to a fellow working through the Andrew Goodman Foundation, another through the League of Women Voters – who are working with the Campus Vote Project, which emphasizes voter education and participation for college students.

The office noted that beyond the ballot box, VCU Votes helps develop students leaders.

“It is more than just them growing as a student. It’s them growing as a person,” said Kelsey Jones, assistant director for civic and community engagement in the office, which is part of the Division of Student Affairs.

Aaron Hart., Ed.D., vice president of student affairs, was the catalyst in promoting a civic engagement plan on campus, and the increasing official support for VCU Votes reflects how its mission is an ideal fit. Longer-term goals include more campus infrastructure to support engagement projects as well as having a polling location in University Student Commons.

Another goal of VCU Votes is to promote civility, and a partnership with the Constructive Dialogue Institute facilitating events and training.

“A lot of it is done with the purpose of giving students a different point of view, but in a controlled way, where it’s not like a raised voice type of situation where you’re arguing over a specific issue,” Jones said. “It fits well into what we’re doing now with VCU Votes as we enter a political space where difference is inevitable.”

With the presidency and control of Congress in the balance during this year’s election, National Voter Education Week, which runs Oct. 7-11, is a strong opportunity for VCU Votes. Programming includes peer outreach, table events and a session for international students that offers insight into the U.S. political system, even if they are unable to vote.

“It’s a really powerful program, especially for some of our international students who have never really compared and looked at the similarities, but also at the differences,” among global political systems, Jones said.

The VCU Votes fellows are posting about upcoming events on Instagram at vcuvotes_students, and posters on TVs throughout campus are promoting participation. A voter guide for students is an ongoing resource.

Closer to Election Day, two additional events will emphasize the opportunity to cast ballots. On Oct. 29, Vote Early Day will highlights how residents can vote more conveniently. And on Nov. 4, Election Hero Day in Monroe Park will engage students to visit their polling location a day later on Election Day, which is a state holiday with no classes scheduled.

For VCU Votes, Jones said, “that’s a great way to get in front of the student body, but also help connect them to the next piece of turning them from a registered voter to an actual voter.”

Among events this week:

Oct. 7 – Buzzer-beater challenge on voting knowledge (11 a.m.-5 p.m., Compass plaza)

Oct. 8 – How elections work (4-5 p.m., West Grace North residence hall)

Oct. 9 – Why voting matter (4-5 p.m., West Grace North residence hall)

Oct. 11 – Don’t Ghost the Vote (6-8 p.m. on WGN)