On Thursday, Sept. 17, students stopped by the Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) tabling to commemorate National Constitution Day with interactive tabling focused on civic engagement, voter registration information and constitution education. The event commemorates the Sept. 17 signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
This year, the event saw a massive increase of engagement, bringing over 85 participants, which is a 215% increase from last year’s event.
Students worked the table at the event, talking to their peers about the Constitution and Voting Registration.
“I hope that each student [who] walked away after visiting our table recognizes that they have the power to make a difference,” Melany Melendez, a legal studies major, said. “They should advocate and educate themselves on matters that they value most.”
To assist students in preparing for the upcoming election, the CCCE worked with the League of Women Voters in Lancaster to provide support for voter registration.
In addition to voting resources, students were able to grab a free pocket-sized copy of the U.S. Constitution. These were provided by the Financial Aid Office.
Donuts for Democracy also assisted the event by supplying five dozen donuts to hand out to students.
“We want everyone to know and understand their rights,” Brianna Titi, the Program Manager, said. “Having something small and easy to carry is helpful to college students. The state also requires the College to hold a National Constitution Day, so we appreciated the partnership with Financial Aid through their time and Constitution materials.”
With Midterm Elections closing approaching in early November, the event was aimed at highlighting the importance of student voter participation as well as understanding constitutional rights. Students who were unable to attend the tabling are still able to check their voting registration status online prior to the Oct. 21 Pennsylvania voter registration deadline.
“Your vote is your voice,” Titi said. “Politics affect all of us, and it’s important that we engage in and exercise our civic right to vote. Having support here on campus to sit down with students and help them register to vote is a great way to get help without having to leave campus. I highly encourage everyone to get registered to vote. Don’t wait, get out and vote.”
Students are encouraged to get involved with politics through the CCCE as they work with many organizations on and off campus. They can help find ways for students to take civic responsibility for issues they care about.
“Students can absolutely be involved in politics regardless of their major,” Titi said. “There’s lots they can do within CCCE, so feel free to send us an email @civicengagement.edu. There are also lots of clubs and organizations on campus as well as fantastic local community nonprofit entities that work to get the word out about voting. Again, politics affect everyone, so it’s important to know how it affects you, and also determine what you care about.”
Students involved in these events feel more connected to the broader community and more confident with their interactions with others.
“I feel proud to contribute to something meaningful,” Melendez said. “It’s powerful as young individuals to freely discuss politics while holding respect for each other. After tabling, I felt much more confident as I was able to interact with so many new people. I hope that we are able to continue having these important discussions to build a brighter future for ourselves.”
The CCCE hosts an array of events each semester and encourages students to attend and get involved.
“We would love to have everyone participate in our 33rd Annual Into the Streets event happening Oct. 17,” Titi said. “This is a great way to serve in our local communities, spend time with friends and learn about organizations and their needs.”
Students can register online at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Ek-IHdeg8EKLFTqRyFO8tZ24jWgzs2BNsVUwQ7b9ThpUQlc3R0ZTVDRURFlES0JGSkpMSzFSTEs1SiQlQCNjPTEkJUAjdD1n or can email civicengagement@etown.edu.
