WESTFIELD – The Student Government Association at Westfield State University has released plans for an on-campus voter registration drive ahead of the upcoming presidential election in order to educate student voters and increase accessibility to voter registration resources.
College students historically have been one of the most outspoken demographics on current issues in the United States; they are constantly used as a marker for where young people currently stand on recent politics.
“There are a lot of people on campus who want to share their thoughts and a lot of other people on campus who want to do something about whichever cause they’re passionate about, however there is equally if not more [of] the amount of people who don’t want to have that conversation; who shy away from it.” Stated Joseph Bonilla, current president of the Student Government Association.
On October 21st, 23rd, and 25th, voter registration booths will be set up around campus so that students can register to vote as they are walking back to their dorm or to their next class. Civic engagement is a top priority for this year’s SGA administration, and they started off the year strong by holding a 9/11 memorial service with campus partners in order to remember the many lives that were lost on that fateful day 23 years ago.
In a brief interview with Sarah Rizzi, a junior criminal justice major at Westfield State University, she stated, “I see my student community engage more in off campus politics regarding the presidency specifically. Many different conversations are circulating about issues in politics and about how each individual believes who should hold power as president of the country.”
The COVID-19 pandemic and worsening international conflicts left many Americans wondering how the U.S. government would improve their quality of life during a time where personal liberties are up for debate and the cost of living is ever-increasing. More recently, the Palestine-Israel conflict has sparked widespread college campus protests as students have become displeased with how the U.S. has intervened in international affairs.
Institutions such as Harvard University and Columbia University have made headlines for their protests which included building sit-ins.
“All universities, not just Harvard, are reflections of the state of our society; they’re incubators of ideas that then spread out into the world.” Anemona Hartocollis, a reporter who focuses on higher education, stated in an interview for the New York Times.
At Westfield State University, the campus is reportedly quiet when it comes to the expression of opinion.
When asked about whether students who are not affiliated with SGA regularly attend meetings, Sarah Harrington, the Vice President of Academic Life noted, “That’s the only time we really see people at SGA who aren’t on it is the beginning of the year when people are expressing interest, that wanna see what it’s like, and when a crisis happens.”
However, attendance for community events has been on the upswing since the rise of COVID-19 in 2020.
Laura Cafaro, the Senior Coordinator of Student Involvement at Westfield State University, noted that student engagement on-campus has increased because of a strong effort put towards outreach and new ideas by SAIL student leaders. SAIL stands for “Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership” and includes the SGA.
Cafaro also reported that a “Law Club” is looking to get their constitution ratified by SGA.
There are more than 70 active clubs currently at Westfield State University, including the Student Government Association.
Citations
Bahr, Sarah. “When “Contemporary Issues” and Campus Politics Collide.” Nytimes.com, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/01/09/insider/college-protests-srael-gaza-harvard-claudine-gay.html. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.
