ALLTHINGSVOTING
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The Battalion | 9.15.20
An educated citizenry Who bears the weight of democracy?
Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M President Michael K. Young that A&M’s core values align with a student’s responsibility to vote, if able.
A&M administrators, students discuss importance of voting By Madi Telschow and Alyssa Gafford-Gaby A unified belief in the importance of civic engagement in higher education connects students to leadership all the way to the top of the Texas A&M University System. Ideas diverge over how best to encourage active participation and who shoulders responsibility for creating an educated citizenry. Who should be leading the charge at Texas
A&M Univeristy? With all eyes on the November election, student inboxes are filled with emails from partisan, nonpartisan and bipartisan organizations reminding college students of voter registration deadlines and events designed to engage students in the democratic process. Many professors incorporate the upcoming election in their hybridized classes. The question remains: is enough being done to promote an active and educated citizenry at Texas A&M? According to Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp, the effectiveness of instructors in creating an informed citizenry determines the future of the nation. As such, it is
the responsibility of the System to graduate educated individuals. “Land grant universities were created ... to feed the country, to build a better world and to protect it,” wrote Sharp in an email statement. “We take ordinary kids and turn them into extraordinary young adults.” The free, robust dialogue encouraged by Texas A&M is a fulfillment of its natural responsibility toward civic duty, Texas A&M University President Michael K. Young said. “Voting really is a critical thing, and it fits Texas A&M because we are about service and engagement,” Young said, adding that student focus had to be on local, not just national,
issues and elections. “You have to pay attention, especially to local government,” Young said. “If you really want schools to be integrated and deal with issues of disparity and opportunity, that’s a local decision. If there’s a change you want to see, you need to go out and vote — every election — not just this year.” Young said he believes the process of voter engagement is effectively facilitated by administrators with the presence of voting locations on campus, ongoing discussions about making parking free for voters and added safety precautions in light of COVID-19.
