{"id":47505,"date":"2020-10-22T08:04:37","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T12:04:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=47505"},"modified":"2020-11-03T15:03:35","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T20:03:35","slug":"emus-political-clubs-make-bipartisan-effort-to-get-out-the-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2020\/emus-political-clubs-make-bipartisan-effort-to-get-out-the-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"EMU’s political clubs make bipartisan effort to get out the vote"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two clubs at 草莓社区 did their best to get out the vote this month ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election \u2013 and contrary to the fraught and divisive national scene, they did so harmoniously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The effort, which included a jointly staffed booth on multiple days outside the dining hall and one virtual evening session, was intentionally \u201cbipartisan,\u201d according to Adam Peachey<\/strong>, co-president of the College Republicans, and Luke Wheeler<\/strong>, co-president of the Young Democrats. EMU\u2019s Student Government Association, an elected group of student leaders, helped to start the conversation and contributed staffing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n\n\n\n
\"\"
A student registers to vote while Ani Beitzel, a member of EMU’s Young Democrats, watches. The booth was jointly staffed by members of both of EMU’s political clubs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

\u201cSGA thought this drive would be a perfect opportunity for the political clubs on campus to lead together and show unity during this extremely polarizing election season,\u201d said Theo Yoder<\/strong>, SGA vice-president. \u201cWe hope that we made a difference in our community by helping give students the opportunity to practice their right to vote. SGA is also planning to work closely with them in the future to plan more events revolving around this election.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clubs have also met with faculty, staff and administrators to consider ways to promote respectful and civil dialogue about the debates and the election in the coming weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publishing a joint statement, via email to the campus community, was one high-profile way that group sought to elevate discourse, urge empathy, and raise awareness about how some aspects of the current election were impacting more vulnerable members of the community, specifically those \u201clacking in physical safety or an empowered voice.\u201d The message lifts up EMU\u2019s community-building values and a shared priority to \u201cmove through these next weeks rooted in the values that define EMU as peacemakers rooted in Christian understandings.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n\n\n\n

An excerpt from the 10\/16 email<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intentional EMU community invites us to the following actions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n