Civic Engagement Week gets students involved
Several events provide education, opportunity to get active
Published on Mon., October 22nd, 2007
This week, the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics played to host the fourth annual Civic Engagement Week to encourage active participation in the community.
Events This Week
Today
Civic Leadership Breakfast for campus leaders and potential leaders — 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. at the Dole Institute of Politics
Register to vote — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wescoe Beach
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Jubilee Café -- 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont Street
Study group with Jerry Austin: “Presidential Politics from the Inside” — 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Dole Institute
Register to vote — 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wescoe Beach
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Sustainability Awareness Day — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Burge Union
Study group with Jennifer Schmidt: “Women in Politics: Career Stories” — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Dole Institute
Register to vote — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wescoe Beach
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tea Time Movie Screening: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington — 3 p.m. at the Kansas Union
Forum on political parties moderated by Bill Kurtis, Former Anchor of CBS Morning News — 7:30 p.m. at the Dole Institute
Register to vote — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wescoe Beach
Friday, October 26, 2007
Jubilee Café — 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont Street
Register to vote — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wescoe Beach
Saturday, October 27, 2007
“Make a Difference Day” — Groups and individuals throughout Douglas County are encouraged volunteer for the day by creating a service project. Contact the Roger Hill Volunteer Center for more information: (785) 865-5030 or volunteer@rhvc.org.
Source: Dole Institute of Politics, Student Legislative Awareness Board
Barbara Ballard, associate director of the Dole Institute and state representative, said that the week would have several opportunities for students to be involved in the civic process. She said she was especially excited for this morning’s breakfast for future and current leaders at the Dole Institute.
“It can be a social thing as well as an opportunity to meet other student leaders,” Ballard said.
Ballard said that the main purpose of Civic Engagement Week was to focus on what it meant to be a United States citizen. On this campus, she said, it meant getting involved.
Ballard said that being engaged in the civic process included meeting other students, volunteering and voting.
“I enjoy working with students and making sure they’re involved in where they live,” Ballard said. “We look for ways that students could actively participate and not just sit and listen.”
Events occurring during the week include Sustainability Day on Wednesday, which features presentations in the morning and a town hall forum in the afternoon, a showing of the movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” on Thursday and volunteering at the Jubilee Café on Tuesday and Friday morning. Students will also be able to register to vote from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day this week at a table on Wescoe Beach.
Ballard said that she had worked with several student organizations to give several different groups at the University ownership of the week.
One such group is the Student Legislative Awareness Board, or SLAB. Alex Treaster, Shawnee senior, is director of the legislature.
“SLAB is going to be more focused on registering voters while the Dole Institute will be hosting a variety of political programs,” Treaster said. “Although we will both have our own events throughout the week, the SLAB-Dole Institute partnership has been the driving force behind the development of Civic Engagement Week.”
Ballard said that Civic Engagement Week was part of a national movement started by a relationship between the University, Harvard University and several other institutions throughout the country. Ballard said that other schools had similar weeks to try to promote civic engagement. She also said that once a year she took students to Harvard to meet with other universities to discuss ways to promote civic involvement on campus.
Beka Romm, Bennington senior and student outreach coordinator for the Dole Institute, said that Civic Engagement Week was part of the institute’s mission.
“The mission of the Dole Institute is to educate and engage students,” Romm said. “Civic Engagement Week is really about what you are going to do with what you’ve learned.”
— Edited by Kaitlyn Syring
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