Metropolitan State University hosts special events for election year

With excitement at a fever pitch over the upcoming elections, Metropolitan State has begun Metro State Votes ’08. It is a bold series of activities and programs to inform, engage and involve the community as well as students, staff and faculty in civic action.

Taking place throughout this fall, Metro State Votes ’08 includes multiple events featuring everything from faculty teach-ins and expert speaker presentations to candidate debates and voter registration. Metropolitan State President Sue K. Hammersmith notes, “Civic engagement is one of the cornerstones of Metropolitan State University, and in this most important election year, we want to increase awareness about local and national issues and provide opportunities for students and community members to become involved in civic activities.”

The “Free Speech Zone” kickoff event is Sept. 2. It will give students, staff and community members a space to speak their minds regarding the 2008 election, politics, and issues facing our world today. In addition to the speaking forum, the “Free Speech Zone” will display information on voting, voter registration and information from all major political parties.

Individuals interested in speaking at this event can register by going to www.metrostate.edu, click on Metro State Votes ’08 and scroll down to “Free Speech Zone.”

A faculty Teach-in series will have selected classes open to the university and community to learn about issues prominent in the 2008 presidential campaigns. Teach-in topics include U.S. Foreign Policy, Nuclear Proliferation and the Environment, Immigrant Policy, and Economics and Social Policy. All Teach-ins will be in the Metropolitan State University Library and Learning Center/Saint Paul Dayton’s Bluff Branch, Ecolab Room 302.

An ongoing voter registration initiative will actively seek to register students, staff, faculty and community members through student organizations, in classes and at events. The number of new voters registered will be updated weekly and totals shown on a display in the skyway. All eligible voters can sign their pledge to vote on a large banner also displayed in the skyway.

Programs and activities for Metro State Votes ’08 are sponsored by Metropolitan State University’s Center for Community-Based Learning, American Democracy Project, Student Senate, and Students for Social Change.