How politically active are you? Sadly, the answer for most college students is that they are not involved at all. Maybe you helped a friend campaign on campus, but are you also aware of the issues affect the US as a whole?
Monday night’s event, hosted by the Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, was a step in the right direction towards making more students politically aware as well as active. Representatives from organizations such as the John G. Riley Research Center & Museum of African American History & Culture, People for the American Way, Democracy Matters and Sistuhs were all present. Each organization had set up a display board with different facts and statistics for students to see, as well as some offered pamphlets with even more information.
Amanda Wilkerson, a senior political science student, is the campus coordinator for the political group “Democracy Matters.”
“Democracy Matters is a political issues group that is based out of Washington, D.C., whose purpose is to bring to the attention of students how elections are held, and to raise awareness of issues,” Wilkeron stated.
They start by raising awareness around college campuses and then venture into the city, hopefully getting the people in the community involved and interested as well.
Cherlise Forshee, a 20-year-old business administration student from Miami, said that the BADST Political Party was implemented “in order to educate students about different political groups available with booths, posters and displays and by having everything in one centralized location.”
The booth for the civil rights organization, “People for the American Way” also gave out bags containing everything from miniature gavels, to pamphlets and brochures.
“Our big issue right now is the Supreme Court and informing students about the Supreme Court in a fun way,” said Raquel Simon.
She also discussed People for the American Way’s project, “Election Protection,” where they focus on “letting people know all of their rights as a voter and will have people there to guide other citizens in every step of the voting process.” This is all part of their volunteer program, MUSIC (Moving United Students In Communities). Judicial Jeopardy and the entire program is one that the organization hopes to use at other schools, seeing the success it had.
The game of “Judicial Jeopardy” consisted of three teams with two FAMU students each and followed the same order of Jeopardy. The team consisted of students from Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta, Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma.
“Judicial Jeopardy” ended with a win by Team 3, with Brandon Law, a member of Iota Phi Theta and Ranaldo Allen, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi.
Proceeds from their win will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club.
Contact Courtney Henderson at famuanlifestyles@hotmail.com