Feature Story

“Cougars Rockin’ the Vote,” a student involvement campaign put on by the Center of Civic Engagement (CCE), inspired many Washington State University (WSU) students this historical election year.
Michael J. Schwartz, a graduate student at WSU and the CCE’s statewide program coordinator, was one of four WSU graduate students who planned the new campaign and put it into action. Schwartz and his team members registered over six hundred students to vote during the “Cougars Rockin’ the Vote” campaign that ran from September 30th to November 4th. On “Election Countdown” Tuesdays information tables were set up in the Compton Union Building (CUB) informing students of how “Cougars Rockin’ the Vote” could inform them about the candidates, provide them with transportation to Pullman City Hall to vote as well as keep them updated on election results. The students were provided with food and entertainment in the CUB on election night, where they could stay updated on the election results. “It was really great to see all the students sitting in the CUB watching the election results live. I think it made them feel like the CUB is their building, as I think it should,” said Schwartz.

Patia Eaton
November 11, 2008
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WSU’s famous mascot, “Butch,” made several appearances during the campaign. “Butch” passed out voter registration forms on the Glenn Terrell Mall and helped get students engaged in the voting process and encouraged them to go to the polls. “Students were excited to vote. This election was electric,” Schwartz said. Students also had an opportunity to debate one another or watch other student debates during the “Under the Big Tent” events on October 2nd and October 30th. The debates were heated, but the passion behind the issues gave student the sense that voting is the ultimate demonstration of civic engagement, said Schwartz.
The goal of the “Cougars Rockin’ the Vote” campaign was to get students interested in the election process, registered to vote and to make sure any student who wanted to, had the opportunity to vote.
“Cougar’s Rockin’ the Vote” took approximately three months of planning and was originally the idea of Associated Students of WSU (ASWSU) Senator, Pete Semon. Schwartz estimated that $5,000 was spent on putting on the campaign. During any of the weekday events it took the CCE’s full staff, about 20 people, to help with the day’s activities.
On Election Day, as vans were pulling out of the parking lot taking students to city hall to fill out their ballots, more students would be running after the vans yelling “Stop! I need to vote!,” said Schwartz. Next year, Schwartz hopes WSU’s and ASWSU’s Presidents will attend. WSU faculty said to Schwartz, “that it was good to see a transformed sort of student activism.”
Patia Eaton
November 11, 2008
Page 3

The CCE’s mission is to “Promote civic responsibility, community knowledge, and self awareness of students through education and action,” as stated on the CCE website. The “Cougars Rockin’ the Vote” campaign made students feel passionately about their duty to vote. Schwartz said the campaign was so successful it will definitely become a tradition for CCE during upcoming election years.