Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News

On Feb. 19, Wisconsin will finally have their chance to vote in the 2008 presidential primaries. With the presidential election comes new campus groups and fanfare. The Get Out to Vote campaign is a group targeted at getting college students to vote in the up coming primaries and elections.

The group has both staff and student representatives. With the 18 to 24 age range being the least active in politics, Get Out to Vote hopes to make Lakeland the exception. They are trying to get all students concerned with politics, by utilizing all kinds of media.

This year there are still candidates left by the time the Wisconsin Primary rolls around. It is a rare opportunity for a late primary state to affect the candidate nominations, use all the tools Lakeland is offering to help you be an informed and active citizen.

The Get Out to Vote Campaign kicked off with a Super Tuesday results party in The Pub and poster contest with cash prize. They will be hosting another results party for the Wisconsin primary.

There will be a shuttle to the polling sites on Feb. 19. It will run during convocation time to give on campus students a chance to vote. For commuters the closest polling site to Lakeland is at the Franklin Town Hall, but check your local library or town hall to find a closer sight.

The group is actively using technology to push students into the political arena. They are trying to utilize Facebook by working to get a Facebook group and adding the No Vote, No Voice application. There will also be a "Pick Your Candidate" site to help undecided students find the best candidate for their interests.

The group hopes to get students excited, as Nov. gets closer. They hope to get an on-campus polling site and help out-of-state students with absentee ballots, and have open forums for students to voice questions and concerns about the candidates and voting process.

With the fall will come more activities, hopefully including a Rock the Vote concert,panel discussion on the main campaign issues, and a Civic Responsibilities Convocation. They hope to contact the local Democratic and Republican Party Headquarters so students can post signs and support their political preference.

The ways to get involved on campus are numerous; keep your eyes peeled and your mind open. There are still constitutions on file for both Republican and Democratic Clubs on campus; all that is needed is student participation. Get Out to Vote will also help with students that want to start a Students for __ Club.

They will be hanging posters with candidates' views and information to help inform students.

You can look forward to emails and newsletters to head your way in the coming months. The 2008 election will make history and by voting you have a chance to change the policy direction of the nation.

To get more information or to help out with Get Out to Vote contact Ryan Opahle, Grosshuesch Hall director, at opahlerl@lakeland.edu or ext. 1517

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