Prior to the November election University Life administrators, Kathryn Mangus, Alissa Karton and Jason Hartsel were unified in this certainty: Mason students would be educated, informed and aware of the issues driving campaigns and they would be ready for their voices to be heard, regardless of party affiliation. “We are living in a politically charged environment that can be an educational moment for all of us, and there is a lot of student interest in the outcomes and what it means for their futures,” said Mangus, Director of Student Media. “As a university, our goal is to help students learn how to understand peoples’ differences and recognize that we don’t all come at issues through the same lens. We want students to have the ability to appreciate and value diversity of opinion in a civil context.” The Mason Votes initiative, which launched during the 2008 election cycle and continued with student-driven multimedia coverage this fall, is the primary platform for student reporters and editors to report the news and provide opinion-based content designed to engage the Mason student body.
Through the initiative students partner with campus administrators to educate and create awareness on voting and elections. Mason’s Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning (CECIL) and the Schar School of Policy and Government collaborate with University Life in this effort. Through the Mason Votes website, which is run by Student Media, Mason has shown a long-standing, non-partisan commitment to encouraging student political engagement. Karton, Assistant to Vice President and Director of Special Projects for University Life, recalled that the site was created as a central location for the articles, podcasts and video content being produced during experiential learning surrounding the electoral process. From the beginning, Karton and others were galvanized by the campus response and interest. “We wanted students to see themselves as part of the process, and to spark an engaged community,” Karton said.
That has happened at Mason as shown in a report from the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education at Tufts University, where researchers conducted a National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement at the collegiate level. Mason consistently records higher student voter registration figures and voting rates than similar institutions, with almost 72% of eligible registered voters casting a ballot compared to a 66% national average. That’s important, the study authors say, because voting is habit-forming and young voters will usually continue as voters in subsequent elections. They continue by saying the active voters are more likely to be visible to and to be contacted by campaigns, highlighting their ability to raise key topics.
‘Front-row view of history’
Mason’s proximity to Washington, D.C., puts the university and its students in prime position for candidate visits and rallies with their supporters, events that amp the excitement and makes elections more relevant to students, said Hartsel, the Assistant Director of Student Media. Over the years, visitors have included President Joe Biden, President Barack Obama, Vice President Mike Pence, Bernie Sanders, Andrew Yang, Elizabeth Warren, Vice President Kamala Harris, and John Kasich, either as candidates or just before announcing their aspirations.
“Our student media leaders are in the position to be alongside national media reporting on the election, and that’s an amazing experience that just doesn’t happen at other universities” Hartsel said. “They have a front-row view of history with access that is one-of-a-kind. “They take it very seriously that their accurate reporting has a role in helping shape informed voters’ opinions.” The process of covering an election gives students the opportunity to develop career-ready skills including writing, interviewing, and critical thinking that will serve them well as they seek internships or employment.
Dialed-in for diligence
Hartsel also points out that for many students, this will be their first year of being able to cast a presidential vote, a fact that raises the importance of awareness of candidates and their stance on issues. “You can be part of the larger conversation when you know what is going on,” Hartsel said. “This is their future that they’re covering (as Student Media) or discussing on and around campus, and we want them to make informed choices.” Mason Votes, in addition to candidate profiles, event coverage and hosting debate watch parties, works to make elections relevant to what affects and interests college students. The effort goes beyond just reaching students who already have an opinion or are otherwise politically engaged, Karton notes. This year, Mason Votes is producing a public service announcement targeting students who can vote, but don’t intend to cast a ballot. The clip asks students to identify an issue close to them and then evaluate how that could influence or motivate them to vote. It’s a way to see beyond the veneer of candidates and that those matters are relevant at the local, state and national levels. “We try to offer something for everyone,” Karton said. “We want all students to feel like they have a voice.”