VOTE '98: Educating and Motivating Pro-Life College Students Nationwide By Richele Macht and Derrick Jones
In an effort to reach out and motivate pro-life college students, National College Students for Life has developed its VOTE '98 project. First designed in 1996, VOTE '98 is a unique way to spread the pro-life message in an often unfriendly environment, identify new pro-lifers on campus and motivate them to register and participate in the democratic process.
Research about voting trends collected from the 1996 election suggests that the majority of college students did not vote in the election for two main reasons. First, students felt that there was no place for them in the democratic process and that their voices weren't heard. A nationwide survey of college freshman conducted by UCLA in 1997 found that interest in politics is at a 30-year low. At the same time, youth are volunteering in their communities in increasing numbers. This suggests that college students are not apathetic. Although they are willing to work for causes that they believe in, students too often stay home from the ballot box.
The other reason that kept students from participating was that there were barriers to voting, ie., student showing up to vote only to realize that they were registered at their parent's address rather than at their college.
The VOTE '98 project is ideal in that it combats both of these problems. VOTE '98 is an education and registration project designed to promote the life issues on college campuses. Not only does this project give pro-life campus groups a way to develop their groups, but it also provides them with the educational and voter registration materials necessary for them to make a difference on their college campuses.
We believe that this generation the generation most directly affected by abortion can be a powerful and effective voice for the protection of life. Through VOTE '98, student pro-life groups will have the tools necessary to promote the life issues through education and provide a tangible way of affecting social change VOTE '98 project has the potential to change our generation's attitudes towards the life issues and its own role in the democratic process. Efforts to register people to vote as a means to increase knowledge and participation are deeply rooted in other social action movements. We cannot afford to miss the opportunity to change the hearts and minds of our generation.
For more information on VOTE '98 and how you can help, call (202) 626-8800, ext. 209, e-mail us at jonesy77@aol.com or complete the coupon below.
YES! I want to help with VOTE '98! Please send me more information!
Please return to: VOTE '98 419 7th Street, N.W. Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20004
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