UPPER BURRELL, Pa. — Speaking to a group of more than 30 Penn State New Kensington students who will cast national ballots for the first time in April, five local politicians put aside their campaign speeches and stressed the importance of exercising the right to vote, regardless of the students’ political party affiliation, at a dinner Feb. 25 in the campus Conference Center.
The guest speakers included state Reps. Eli Evankovich, R-Murrysville, and Joseph Petrarca, D-Vandergrift; Richard Callender, mayor of Lower Burrell; and Erin McClelland, who is running in the Democratic primary for the right to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-12th, in the general election in November. Rothfus was represented by staffer Jeremy Honhold. Craig Hammond, assistant professor of history at the campus, read a letter from Rothfus urging students to go to the polls for the primary and general elections.
A panel discussion, moderated by Hammond, homed in on the importance of getting involved in politics and registering to vote. The panel answered questions such as what do they say to first-time voters who they know aren’t going to vote for them.
“I encourage everyone to vote and to get involved in the process because an informed electorate is an involved electorate, and that is a good electorate,” Petrarca said. “If that vote doesn’t go to me, and they choose someone else, then that is democracy at work, and the form of government that is the best in the world. The people have the right to speak.”
After registering to vote with My Vote Matters, senior communications majors Katie Miskanic and Ryan Long attended the function. Both said they were encouraged to become more political by the guest speakers.
“Hearing state representatives speak was inspiring and made me want to be more involved, knowing that my say has an effect and can help change things to help better our society,” Miskanic said. “As I get older, I notice more things and want to be involved more in politics, especially since it is affecting my own future."
“I am not really a politics person, but I learned a few new facts about politics," Long said. “I heard a couple of the speakers repeatedly say, ‘You are our future; you have to vote; your vote matters,' so I will probably vote in April.”
The “Diplomatic Dinner” was organized by My Vote Matters, a group of campus students who are mobilizing the college youth vote. The group opened the event with an awareness campaign video that the students produced, directed and edited.
Set to the song “God Bless the USA,” written and recorded by Lee Greenwood, the two-minute video features students, faculty, staff and administrators holding up signs with pithy observations about American citizens’ duty to vote. Some of the featured aphorisms were: “Just by entering the voting booth, you are making a statement," “An idea’s a thought, change is an action," and “Staying silent is not an option. Your voice is your vote.”
My Vote Matters was founded last semester by Millie Brasser, a sophomore corporate communications major, to educate and register first-time voters. The group is dedicated to enlightening young voters on the importance of getting involved in the political process, be it on a local, state or national level. The group doesn’t espouse the views of any political party or candidate.
“Our goal is to make a difference for young people in our country,” Brasser said. “We want to help people become more educated and interested in politics while promoting voter registration. Students should be proud of our country.”
Brasser has been passionate about politics ever since she left Peru in 1990 because of an unstable government. She immigrated to New York and then moved to Washington, D.C., before settling in Tarentum to attend Penn State New Kensington. She is working toward her citizenship and expects to vote in the fall elections.
My Vote Matters was formed under the auspices of the campus’ Student Government Association. The committee comprises nine members — Kyle Waraks, Derrek Koblinsky, Broderick Gerano, Jon McCabe, Danielle Richardson, Aaron Holness, Cecily Petrarca, Sarah Steighner and Brasser. Hammond and Abhinav Aima, instructor in communications, serve as faculty advisers to the committee, which has the support of Kevin Snider, campus chancellor, and Andrea Adolph, director of student affairs.
The get-out-the-vote project is based on a national model, “Campus Election Engagement Project,” that was detailed in the book “Soul of a Citizen.” Written by Paul Loeb, the book encourages participation in civic activities. While people may think their vote doesn’t matter, Loeb provides anecdotal evidence of how elections can turn on a scant number of votes and how one vote can turn into hundreds and thousands when like-minded citizens become players in the game of politics.
“I will make it my business to vote because of the candidates running,” Long said. “In my opinion, just about all of the candidates aren't qualified to be the president of the United States.”
The organization’s mission is to register students to vote, educate students on issues and candidates, recruit volunteers, build election excitement, and get out the vote. Overcoming the apathy of the 18-24-year-old demographic is the group’s main challenge. Aima concurs. He recounted his experiences with disinterested college students. A native of India, Aima came to the United States in 1996, when Bill Clinton was running for re-election.
"It was a culture shock to see the level of apathy and disengagement among the students and the political process,” said Aima, who joined the campus community in 2008. “I have always believed that a politically active and engaged student population is the lifeblood of any democracy, and to see students on our campus energized to spread awareness about political participation is a very good sign."
My Vote Matters has been holding registration drives on the campus since the beginning of February. In the past month, the group has registered more than 70 new voters. Nearly 50 of the registrants signed pledge cards to vote in the April 26 primaries. The pledge cards were on display on the wall of the Conference Center.
The registration drive continues until the last week in March. My Vote Matters sets up registration tables twice a week, noon to 1 p.m., Monday and Wednesday, in Café 780 or the main lobby next to the Junction coffee bar. New voters must register by March 27 to be eligible for the April 26 primary elections.
After the primaries, the group will expand its voter reach to the city of New Kensington. Brasser's goal for the fall semester is to register young voters for the general elections in November.
For more about the voter registration drive, contact Brasser at mjb6270@psu.edu.