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ENTERTAINMENT

Rock The Vote performers encourage student voter turnout

By Sarah Davis
Norwich Guidon Staff writer

MTV Road Rulers Shain and Veronica urged Norwich students to vote during a performance and rally called “Rock the Vote” on campus Sept. 24.

On Sept. 24, 2004, two of the contestants on Music Television’s Road Rules visited the Norwich University campus to promote student interest in the political process and voting.

Political Science Professor Jason Jagemann and Dr. Chan Stowell, director of student activities at Norwich, got together to plan a night when students could easily register, get information about how to fill out an absentee ballot, and learn about important issues that are being discussed in the election.

When Stowell approached Jagemann with the idea of inviting the program Rock the Vote to Norwich, they both felt that with Road Rules’ popularity, it would help increase the interest of the students in the voting process.

The tactic seems to have worked well, since everyone in attendance wanted to know what was going to be said by Shane and Veronica, the two representatives from Rock the Vote.

And, judging from the number of people who got up to speak, and the over 60 students who registered to vote, the event was a huge success for Jagemann and the Political Science Club.

“I think it’s awesome that they’re educating the student body more on voting and the process of voting, so students can’t say that they didn’t know how to obtain an absentee ballot or how to register,” said Josh Slattery, a 20- year-old junior political science major from Saylorsburg, Mass.

The same opinion was shared by others, even if they were not looking forward to the guests leading the discussion.

“Personally, I hate MTV; I think they destroy youths' minds,” said Dave Fielding, a 19-year-old sophomore political science and economics major from Andover, Mass. “But apparently they care about voting, and since they have such a major influence over America, it’s a good thing they’re getting kids to vote.”

“I think it’s a great idea," said Nick Smith, a 19-year-old sophomore political science major from Germantown, Maryland. “There are a lot of people here who are really naive about voting, and this helps to get the word out, helps them go through the process and get informed about how it’s our duty to vote.”

Despite their support of Sen. John Kerry, the monitors, Shane and Veronica, welcomed all opinions during the hour-long discussion where the topics ran from a potential draft, felony voting, same-sex marriages, and abortion laws, with valid points on all sides of each argument.

“It’s interesting to see an outer view of the election, outside the Norwich atmosphere,” Slattery said, “[but] why isn’t anyone talking about the Supreme Court?”

Shane and Veronica both came with the intent to get those that attended involved in the political process. According to Veronica, Vermont’s voting record shows the greatest difference in youth and adult voting.

“The whole point about Rock the Vote is to have people go out and encourage other people to have their own voice be heard,” Shane said. “You all came here and voiced your opinions, now do it in the polls, please.”

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, 158 Harmon Dr, Northfield, VT 05663. www.norwich.edu/guidon.