A trio of Franklin College students on Saturday walked with a staff adviser from the Benjamin Franklin statue on campus to the Johnson County courthouse, in a show of support for student voting. Griz to the Polls was supposed to be a voting event, with students meeting to march to the courthouse to cast their ballots three days ahead of Election Day. But none of the students actually voted Saturday, and just two had registered. That's because about 85% of the 60 students surveyed on campus had already made plans to vote. The students who showed up Saturday to support their peers made the walk anyway. “I think part of it is to show voting is a serious issue,” said Kevin Gast, a senior who helped organize the event with political science professor Allison Fetter-Harrott. “If students are willing to walk like this, whether voting absentee or in person, if students are serious enough to walk through this, it shows other students they should follow through with their plan to cast a ballot this year.” The college provided voter information at the Napolitan Student Center, sent students digital voter information guides, organized a virtual election town hall and hosted two virtual events during which students watched the gubernatorial debates. Dylan Harker, also a senior, said he would be casting his ballot on Election Day. “It’s important that as many people have their voices heard with 2020 being as chaotic and crazy as it has been,” Harker said. “It’s important ... so we can get people to elect people who voice their own beliefs on issues like the pandemic and how to get the economy back on track.” Getting students to the polls is key in making sure their voices are heard, said Ryan Mullin, a staff adviser for the event and Franklin College assistant swimming coach. “It’s super important to vote and to want to be a part of that,” Mullin said. “I think young people are the future whether they understand it or not. They are going to be the officials elected in ‘x’ amount of years. It’s important to use their right to vote.” Scott Roberson | Daily Journal
A trio of Franklin College students on Saturday walked with a staff adviser from the Benjamin Franklin statue on campus to the Johnson County courthouse, in a show of support for student voting.
Griz to the Polls was supposed to be a voting event, with students meeting to march to the courthouse to cast their ballots three days ahead of Election Day. But none of the students actually voted Saturday, and just two had registered. That’s because about 85% of the 60 students surveyed on campus had already made plans to vote. The students who showed up Saturday to support their peers made the walk anyway.
“I think part of it is to show voting is a serious issue,” said Kevin Gast, a senior who helped organize the event with political science professor Allison Fetter-Harrott. “If students are willing to walk like this, whether voting absentee or in person, if students are serious enough to walk through this, it shows other students they should follow through with their plan to cast a ballot this year.”
The college provided voter information at the Napolitan Student Center, sent students digital voter information guides, organized a virtual election town hall and hosted two virtual events during which students watched the gubernatorial debates.
Dylan Harker, also a senior, said he would be casting his ballot on Election Day.
“It’s important that as many people have their voices heard with 2020 being as chaotic and crazy as it has been,” Harker said. “It’s important … so we can get people to elect people who voice their own beliefs on issues like the pandemic and how to get the economy back on track.”
Getting students to the polls is key in making sure their voices are heard, said Ryan Mullin, a staff adviser for the event and Franklin College assistant swimming coach.
“It’s super important to vote and to want to be a part of that,” Mullin said. “I think young people are the future whether they understand it or not. They are going to be the officials elected in ‘x’ amount of years. It’s important to use their right to vote.”
