Oberlin Review
It's now been a few weeks since what many have been calling "the most important election of our lives," and though many students have gladly moved on to other aspects of their lives that don't involve being constantly barraged by volunteers and dedicating countless hours to canvassing, I feel now is a great time to reflect on just that; the dedication and effort that the Oberlin community has put towards the election and its effect on the outcome.
OhioPIRG's New Voter's Project (NVP) and many other student organizations on Oberlin College's campus, were very busy this election season. Throughout the fall, students at Oberlin had been canvassing, knocking on dorm doors, phone banking, going to dining halls and co-ops, doing "flash mobs" (choreographed efforts of students to grab the attention of passers-by and inform them about voting issues) etc., to ensure students knew everything there is to know about voting.
More than 2,000 students were registered by on campus organizations, and more than 1,200 students voted early thanks to these efforts.
Also involved in the effort to get out the vote was Oberlin College's administration. President Krislov provided buses various days for students to take to the Lorain County Board of Elections to cast their ballots. Krislov also distributed zero dollar utility bills to all the student mail boxes, enabling many Oberlin students, who would otherwise have been denied the right to vote for lack of proper ID, to cast their ballots.
On Election Day itself, student volunteers were at the polls asking voters and poll workers about their experiences, especially noting difficulties that had arisen so that Election Day reactions and problems could be posted online and attract media attention. Students were also tabling at polling places and on campus, printing out extra copies of the essential zero dollar utility bills.
On Election Day, Oberlin students, and students across the country, turned out to the polls in droves to make their voices heard. National statistics show that youth voter turnout was much greater than in years past; at least 2.2 million more young voters voted in this election than in 2004.
On behalf of Oberlin's chapter of OhioPIRG and the New Voter's Project, I would like to thank everyone for their efforts in the election. Whether you knocked on doors, canvassed, wrote editorials, reminded your friends to head to the polls or simply just got yourself to the polls, you did an amazing job. Now, we have shown that students care about the issues, so politicians should care about our rights and interests. Because of everyone's efforts, we have made it clear that we want our voices to be heard. We have made them listen to us!
Thank you,
-Phoebe Flahertyl
OhioPIRG
New Voter's Project
