Our voices count — and we’re paying attention

People are quick to assume today’s youth, especially collegeaged students, don’t vote and aren’t interested in politics. Both assumptions are wrong, though it is true that many young people may need a little urging and some friendly, nonpartisan guidance to ensure they are properly registered in their home state or able to vote locally if they’re living in Connecticut.

We live in a tumultuous political world where policies and laws being considered or legislated today may have profound future consequences for those of us just coming of age. We believe that our generation has been traditionally underrepresented in local, state and national politics, and it is important to work together to change that reality by raising awareness and making it easier to get involved.

We and our associates here at Sacred Heart University are fortunate to be attending a prestigious private institution of higher learning that believes in educating the total individual by arming us with information, historical perspective and objective exposure to local and world events so we can make informed decisions. That’s especially important when insulated on a college campus, with the pressure of a full course load, athletics, work, extracurricular activities and many other potentially conflicting obligations.

There’s much to consider, especially with the political chaos whirling around us. Becoming an informed member of the American electorate is an honor and a privilege, and to that end, we are dedicated to helping our fellow students share in this critical process. Our outreach effort, called PioneerVote (SHU has embraced the Pioneer name and spirit in all of our formal university activities) has been designed to reach new and returning students with detailed information about voterregistration requirements. We want to help eliminate confusion or doubt and provide a clear path to the ballot box.

To that end, we are visiting athletic and social clubs, fraternities, sororities and affiliated university organizations, staffing tables at orientation, parent weekends and special events, answering questions

The goal is to provide exposure and accurate, timely information, and to encourage students to become registered to vote — and then, when the time comes, to actually vote.

and handing out voterregistration cards. We are planning to speak at incomingfreshman seminars, work with faculty teaching mandatory firstyear programs and design an interactive colloquium scheduled for October focused on voting rights, procedures and related political information.

We also have met with election officials in Fairfield and Bridgeport and have surveyed students online to determine their voterregistration knowledge and interest. Surprisingly, we are finding many SHU students politically involved, with knowledge of local and national political issues, and concern about the direction our country is heading. But some are confused about how, where and when to register, and they appreciate any guidance we can offer.

This outreach effort is supported by the university, but is completely student led. We and the SHU administration believe it is important to have students interacting with other students, and to avoid party affiliation or bias, all in a safe space for discussion and debate. The goal is to provide exposure and accurate, timely information, and to encourage students to become registered to vote — and then, when the time comes, to actually vote.

We want students to know that voting is a right, but getting involved and politically active also is fun. Student participation in local as well as national elections improves relationships with our neighboring communities, and reminds students — and people running for election, locally or nationally — that student voices matter. We carry weight, can help drive change, and our votes make a difference. Not only do our voices count, but in the next election cycle, they’ll count more than ever before.

Carlos Ruiz and Meridith Kennedy are fulltime undergraduate students at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media A view of the Sacred Heart University campus in Fairfield.