Students Awarded Top Campus Election Rankings for Embracing Civic Engagement

As university students from across the nation discovered new ways to organize and participate in "Get Out The Vote" this election season, Seton Hall students collaborating with the University community are being honored for their inspired civic action in the New Jersey Ballot Bowl 2024 voter registration competition. 

Sponsored by the New Jersey Department of State, the University placed among the top three New Jersey higher education winners, representing Conference Two colleges and universities in the non-partisan competition for registering the most first-time voters. Seton Hall also came in first place in the national "All In to Vote for BIG East Athletic Conference," receiving 77 pledges to vote among Big East Athletic Conference institutions.

Pledging to Vote
The New Jersey Ballot Bowl is a joint project of the New Jersey Department of State and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, non-partisan competitions among higher education institutions to increase student voter participation and engagement on campuses. The challenges aren’t about a specific candidate, but about the value of participating in our democracy and committing to showing up for your community.

 “I am so proud of our community and how our students honored each other with respectful dialogue and space to prepare and learn together on how to fulfill this most important civic responsibility of our democracy and participate in the 2024 vote,” said Monica Burnette, Ph.D., vice president, Division of Student Services, noting “At Seton Hall, we are committed to creating a culture of inclusion that is our strength.”

The Division of Student Services, its Office of Student Engagement and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee in partnership with campus partners from across the University including Student Government Association (SGA), the Center for Community Research and Engagement (CCRE), Campus Ministry, Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute, the Black Caucus, and many other student organizations held civic engagement meetings and events. Organizers provided resources, QR codes for voter registration and education efforts, weekly tips on voter education and engagement, mediations, entertainment, educational resources, virtual panels and election focused conversations. Many opportunities were organized for members of the Seton Hall community to engage with each other respectfully and celebrate this vital contribution to democracy as servant leaders and global citizens.

Applauding Their Peers Civic Engagement 
Two student leaders involved in these efforts applauded the commitment of their fellow students.

In partnership with Student Services, SGA encouraged voter registration and students to pledge that they would participate and vote in the November Election, through a series of voter registration programs and events, including by utilizing mechanisms like TurboVote and the Ballot Bowl to enable students to have their voices heard, irrespective of their political affiliation or state of residence.

"Through this election season, I have been so pumped to see students embrace their civic duty, demonstrate respect for their peers, and most of all, continue to build the communal spirit that makes Seton Hall feel like home,” said SGA President Kai N. Hansen.

Lizi Shcherbakovi, class of 2028, was among a group of student leaders working with Associate Professor and Chair Michael A. Taylor, Ph.D., Department of Political Sciences and Public Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, to help to organize a campus voter registration drive and recruit students for voter registration tabling. 

“It was exhilarating to be able to get my peers registered for this election. It turned out to be so successful and we even started a PSSA club so all students at Seton Hall are welcome to join and talk about political science,” said Shcherbakovi, a political science and philosophy major.

To learn more about Seton Hall University and student involvement in getting out the vote in Election 2024, visit here. 

Categories: Campus Life, Nation and World