The Department of Political Science partnered with the Office of Student Involvement and Engagement, the Department of History, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication on Tuesday, October 1 for a faculty-led panel discussion titled “Why Don’t We All Vote?” Dr. Vince Bagnulo served as a moderator for the panel, which consisted of Dr. Roger Abshire (Political Science), Dr. Helen Lowman (Political Science), Dr. Casey Nichols (History), and Laura Krantz (Journalism). The panelists discussed some of the reasons why people do or do not vote in elections as well as the effects this has. Students were able to share their own experiences and ask questions about the voting process. Questions ranged from the practical side, like where one can vote and when early voting begins, to the more nuanced side, like what one could say to a peer that believes voting is not worth the time.
Dr. Bagnulo noted that because “the four panelists were drawn from journalism, history, and political science… they offered a variety of perspectives on why citizens vote, why they don’t vote, and why they should vote.” He continued by saying, “It was gratifying to hear these questions because it showed that students already valued voting. This event was part of a larger civic engagement series, with the next event on October 9th, and it is hoped that students will attend future events as well.”
For more information on this upcoming event, titled “Bobcats, Let’s Talk: A Student-Led Panel on the Presidential Election,” visit the event page here.
