BC3 encourages students to learn the issues, vote
BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College is encouraging its students both to register to vote and to inform themselves about issues facing our nation through a series of events before Election Day, Nov. 6.
BC3 kicked off its My Vote initiative with a Sept. 11 memorial event when about 65 students registered.
“By and large, it was our students out of high school registering for the first time, and it was easy for them,” said Susan Chagnon, BC3 spokesman.
On Monday, BC3 will host author and adjunct instructor Brady Crytzer from 12:20 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Founders Hall to present “Enlightened Populace: The American Constitution and the Duties of Citizenship.”
Students also will be able to register at this event, which will be during a common period when no classes are held.
On Oct. 9, a panel of BC3 President Nicholas Neupauer, economics professor David Huseman and nursing dean Pat Mihalcin will explore issues in the 2012 election.
The panel will discuss the economy, health care and the media from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Succop Theater.
Chagnon said because of a new state law requiring photo identification to vote and the number of topics affecting young voters, this fall is a good time for the My Vote initiative.
“In the summer, the ACLU contacted us from the Philadelphia office and asked what BC3 would be doing to help students use their photo IDs to be able to vote. Our (school) IDs met all of the criteria to be able to vote except for one. They do not have an expiration date,” she said.
“We decided to use stickers, mailed to students, with an expiration date to affix to their IDs.”
From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 6, students can attend an “I Voted!” party, where they can show their “I Voted” stickers to enjoy a pancake brunch with peers and professors at the Student Success Center, Room 230,
“We’ve done this before, but not with a concerted effort like this,” Chagnon said.
“We’re just trying to do our share here to help people understand the importance of voting and the laws that govern us.”
For information about My Vote, contact Rob Snyder, director of student life, at 724-287-8711, Ext. 8249, or at rob.snyder@bc3.edu
