MEADVILLE, Pa. – July 27, 2004 – The Center for Political Participation at Allegheny College is participating in a new national effort at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics to encourage participation and engagement in politics by America’s college students, a traditionally under-represented group in the national political discourse and on Election Day.
The group of 17 institutions of higher education, which is called the National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement, draws from its collective knowledge and experience to exchange information and ideas about how to spur greater interest and involvement in politics by young people. Institutions will also identify obstacles and promote solutions to political engagement by young people.
“Engaging young people in politics is essential for the future of our democracy and an important role for every educational institution in the nation,” said Institute of Politics Director Dan Glickman. “Our national campaign will facilitate an open exchange of ideas and information as we all join together to seek effective ways to encourage young people to participate in the political process.”
“It is wonderful to welcome Allegheny as a new partner in our National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement,” said Glickman. “Allegheny has demonstrated innovation and enthusiasm in engaging young people in politics, which every college and university should emulate.”
“We are obviously honored by the invitation to join this group of elite institutions, which is committed, as Allegheny College is, to finding ways to engage young people in the electoral process,” said Allegheny College Center for Political Participation Director Dr. Daniel M. Shea. “I am especially excited about the increased opportunities for urgently needed communication and collaboration that this program will facilitate.”
In addition to taking action to spur student political involvement on their respective campuses, the group is working together to:
~Issue specific recommendations for government, media, campaigns, and educational institutions to promote political and civic engagement;
~Produce a “playbook” that offers political campaigns advice on effective engagement of young voters;
~Compile “best practices” for promoting political and civic engagement;
~Collect and make available key research; and
~Create new training opportunities for organizations and individuals seeking to promote youth engagement and participation.
Other institutions participating in this national effort are: Birmingham Southern College’s Hess Center for Leadership and Service; Clark Atlanta University’s Joseph Lowery Institute (Atlanta, Ga.); Elon University’s Institute for Politics and Public Affairs (Elon, N.C.); Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa); University of Kansas’s Dole Institute (Lawrence, Kan.); Louisiana State University’s Reilly Media Center (Baton Rouge, La.); Ohio State University’s John Glenn Institute (Columbus, Ohio); University of Rochester (Rochester, N.Y.); Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute for Politics (New Brunswick, N.J.); Saint Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics (Manchester, NH); Tufts University’s College of Citizenship and Public Service (Medford, Mass.); University of Southern California’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics (Los Angeles, Calif.); University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics (Salt Lake City, Utah); University of Virginia’s Center for Politics (Charlottesville, Va.); and Vanderbilt University’s Office of Active Citizenship and Service (Nashville, Tenn.).