INPIRG seeks increase in students' political awareness

In a campaign titled "The New Voters Project," the Indiana Public Interest Research Group is encouraging all students to register now in order to vote during the elections in November. With the Indiana voter registration deadline of Oct. 4 less than two weeks away, junior Vanessa Caruso, INPIRG chair, believes the time for student political action is now.\n"This week is Blitz Week -- we have volunteers stationed at seven central locations, registering people to vote. Monday was our first day, and we collected over 300 registration forms," Caruso said in an e-mail interview. "In order to achieve the widespread coverage that this non-partisan effort needs in order to be successful, we are collaborating with some other groups on campus, including the (IU Student Association, (Graduate and Professional Student Association), the Committee for Civic Engagement -- chaired by Dean Sims -- Student Legal Services, IU Students for Global Democracy, (Helene G. Simon Hillel Center), the Residence Halls Association, the Hip Hop Congress and a few greek organizations." \nIn addition, INPIRG student volunteers are visiting classes to help spread the word of voting by passing out yellow fliers. Senior Katherine Mero, a registered voter who plans on submitting an absentee ballot to her home state of Tennessee, sympathizes with the majority of young people apathetic to the political processes.\n"I don't think the candidates appeal to younger people, at least they haven't until recently," Mero said. "I hope it changes this election." \nSophomore Tim Meador agrees and recognizes other difficulties young people face when deciding whether to visit their local polling establishment.\n"Most young people feel like their vote doesn't matter," Meador said. "I overheard two of my friends talking about how they are too lazy to fill out absentee ballots."\nVoting registration is the first prong of a two-pronged assault by INPIRG on potential eligible voters aged 18 to 24 this election session. \n"After the voter registration deadline has passed, we will begin to focus our efforts on getting people to the polls," Caruso said. "Our 'Get Out The Vote' drive will not only focus on encouraging people to go to the polls, but we will also be making information available about the presidential candidates to help voters become informed before they actually vote." \nINPIRG has organized a mock presidential debate for Oct. 19 from 7 to 8 p.m. in room 223 of the Kelley School of Business. \nThe New Voters Project is not the only priority this semester on INPIRG's to-do list.\n"This semester INPIRG volunteers are working on a campaign to stop the highway I-69 (expansion). This campaign is focused on education and awareness," Caruso said. "In order to make government officials listen to the people, it is important that the people are mobilized, so we are working to gather more supporters and connect people to each other within the framework of a huge movement." \nINPIRG is also interested in the needs of IU community members.\n"If anyone on this campus community identifies a problem, we'd like to help them create a campaign that will solve it," Caruso said. "We want to help students feel empowered as individuals who are capable of making a difference, by providing the tools and support that are necessary for effective solutions." \n-- Contact staff writer David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.