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USU wins campus cup despite low voter turnout staff writer
According to the Cache County Clerk’s office, 40 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in Utah, a historic low that has not been matched since 1960. However, Utah State University active student electorate did win the Campus Cup, a voter registration competition hosted by the Lt. Governor’s office. Within the eight voter precincts on and near campus, 4,905 people registered to vote, and 897 of that number voted this election. For campus elections last spring, however, 3,693 students participated. “I would imagine more students actually vote in our student elections than government elections,” said Casey Saxton, student advocate vice president. “I think it’s probably because the students feel like the student elections here impact them more, and it’s also easy to vote. You just log in on a website and vote. The government election voting process is a bit more complicated, and you have to register to vote.” The Government Relations Council (GRC) is group of 21 students appointed to advocate for student interests in various political settings. Around election time, their primary concern is for voter registration and student voter turnout. In 2012, at 51 percent voter turnout, Utah ranked thirty-ninth nationally in voter participation. “What we hear is there’s not a lot of really competitive races,” said
Justin Lee, deputy director of elections for the Lt. Governor in an interview with Utah Public Radio. “I think — and other people think this, as well — that it’s the competitive races that really drive some turnout.” Saxton agreed. “I think that because races aren’t competitive all the time in Cache Valley, it just causes people to not really be interested in voting,” he said. USU recently won the Campus Cup, a trophy which distinguishes the university from other Utah colleges for higher voter participation. “Part of the competition was voter registration, and at Utah State we registered 910 students to vote,” Saxton said. “Part of it was a social media component, which was simply meant to drive voter turnout since we can’t track who actually does vote.” After voting, students were encouraged to post a picture of their “I voted” sticker or sealed absentee ballot to Twitter, Instagram or Vine with #usuvotes. “This Campus Cup is a win for all of us,” said Ian Nemelka, GRC member. “With this victory, Utah State has once again proved that we want to be heard. We put a lot of effort this year into getting students excited about voting — and not just voting, but making an educated vote. We know students are busy, so we try to be the advocates between them and the state and local governments. This way the students can still stay involved and
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People who People registered actually to vote voted
Students celebrate Asian culture
People votPeople ed in student voted in mid-terms elections in the spring
International education week showcases diversity 4By Chris Campbell staff writer
Ryan Costanzo photos THE ASIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION hosted an event called Finding Asia: Origins in the Taggart Student Center on Saturday. The event showcased Asian Culture. Stephen Merkley (top left) dances at the event and Nini Pongpommard, 9, performs the Thai candle dance.
Mikayla Kapp graphic
4By Brenna Kelly
To celebrate the diversity of countries represented at Utah State University, the Office of Global Engagement and International Student Council has set up International Education Week from Monday to Saturday. The week will start with “Around the World Family Night,” which Marci Falvey, study abroad staff assistant in the Office of Global Engagement, said will be an awareness night of all the cultures on campus. “Each country will have its own booth and the students will be behind the booth,” Falvey said. “And they’ll have different activities for kids.” Though Falvey did not give specifics about which activities would be featured, she said they may include cooking. She said last year there was an origami booth. According to a press release sent out by the Office of Global Engagement, there will be a study abroad photo contest from Monday to Thursday. It will take place in the second floor of the Taggart Student Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students will be able to vote on the photos in several categories: Aggie spirit, people and places.
On Friday singer Alex Boyé will come speak at USU. Falvey said he is expected to sing that day as well. The week will end with Mr. and Miss International on Saturday where international students will compete by showing off their culture with native dress, videos and multicultural talents. “That’s probably the highlight of the week every year is that contest,” Falvey said. “It really puts in the forefront our international students in things that they don’t get to do here very often, which is wear their traditional clothes and do their talents from their own countries.” Yuzhen Luo, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering and member of the International Student Council, said American students can also take part in the contest. “America itself does, I believe, have their own culture,” Luo said. “If it’s like a mix of different cultures, if you can bring all of that on-stage, that will be brilliant.” Falvey said the purpose of International Education Week is to promote awareness of the opportunities USU students have to study abroad
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