New series at Virginia Tech to engage students across different viewpoints

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Participating our youngest voters in a time of disinformation. That’s the thought behind a brand new program at Virginia Tech the place college students study why their voice issues after which can interact in significant conversations throughout totally different viewpoints.

“If we will get school college students registered to vote and within the behavior, then they are going to be energetic voters and residents from then on,” mentioned Beth Obenshain with the League of Ladies Voters in Montgomery County.

The group partnered with Virginia Tech for a dialog on girls and politics.

“One of many issues we wish is for school college students and youthful voters to comprehend that they’re a robust block if they simply get collectively and register and imagine that their vote issues,” mentioned Obenshain. “Who you choose as mayor and city council most likely has extra fast affect in your life than who you vote for as president of america however that’s a really exhausting message.”

Nevertheless it’s a message that college students like sophomore Elisha KC need their friends to listen to.

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“Change comes from voting. They discuss this and that and that, however they’re not voting out right here. They’re not like civically engaged. None of my associates had been again at residence and I need to make that an vital factor in every single place, even on campus,” mentioned KC, who can also be a part of the Hokies Vote Caucus.

This occasion is a part of deliberative dialogues. The sequence began this semester.

Opal Lee, often known as the grandmother of Juneteenth, was at Tech speaking to college students earlier this 12 months.

“I believe you’re seeing a gaggle of scholars which are motivated, you already know, we now have Ut Prosim because the college motto,” mentioned Jes Davis, VT Assistant Director for Management and Civic Engagement.

These are boards the place Davis says everybody can find out about points and variations.

“I believe we’re seeing much more divisiveness in society broadly. There’s loads of mis and disinformation that’s on the market. This enables college students to return collectively, have a dialog a few matter and actually form of stroll away and assume by means of ‘What does this imply for my neighborhood?’ As a result of we additionally know that options look totally different for each neighborhood, proper? It’s not going to be the identical. So how can we discuss by means of what these appear to be for our neighborhood right here?” mentioned Davis.

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“I really feel like our younger minds are essential as a result of we’re not going to see change with out voting and from voting, we’ll see change sooner or later, you already know,” mentioned KC.

Davis says Virginia Tech is beginning a citizen democracy management program within the fall semester. It can educate college students about what does democracy appear to be? What does it appear to be to be civically engaged?

We’ll have extra later this month in our Solutionaries sequence on how Virginia Tech has 90% voter registration on campus.

This story is a part of a sequence referred to as “Solutionaries,” the place we got down to discover progressive methods individuals are working to battle issues we’re all going through. Inflation, inexpensive housing, the local weather disaster, and far more. You will discover hours of tales right here.