Winthrop University was deemed a voter-friendly campus by national nonpartisan organizations Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project (CVP) and NASPA– Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The two organizations seek to assist institutions in fostering campus environments that are conducive to democracy and honoring the right to vote.
“I am very pleased to report that Winthrop is one of more than 200 U.S. campuses, and one of four colleges in South Carolina, to be designated as a Voter Friendly Campus. Winthrop previously earned the Voter Friendly Campus designation in 2019 and 2017,” said President George Hynd in an email to faculty and staff sent on March 16. “During the latest election season, the campus was abuzz with a variety of virtual events and activities to get out the vote, and I appreciate the work of all involved who helped our students understand the importance of being life-long civically minded and engaged citizens.”
Winthrop implemented a number of events and encouragements geared towards getting most of its students to participate in the 2020 election. Some strategies the university had already implemented before during past efforts to encourage student participation in the election, but the university also implemented some new strategies in anticipation of the 2020 election.
Katarina Moyon, director of the John C. West Forum of Politics and Policy, created and led an eight-member steering committee of faculty and staff, as well as a student voting ambassador program.
The student ambassador program “focused heavily on a social media push to activate students to register and vote. Engagement occurred on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, as well as several election-related information events on Zoom,” according to Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager.
The university also worked to inform students on how to vote and various voting procedures through the West Forum website. There was also a five-part series on the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage where students were eligible to receive cultural event credits. Students also played a hand in encouraging others to exercise the right to vote.
Art students created a mural between McLaurin and Rutledge that promotes voting. The university accomplished getting all student-athletes registered to vote. Teams of graduate social work students were created as a part of their field placements, who helped both South and North Carolina residents register to vote.
“As part of the Voter Friendly application, Winthrop evaluated its campus plan, how the university facilitated voter engagement efforts, and offered a final analysis of its efforts, all in the face of the disruption caused by a global pandemic. The Voter Friendly designation is valid through December 2022,” according to Longshaw.
“We have been impressed with the civic engagement by the Winthrop campus,” Hynd said. “Winthrop not only embeds civic lessons throughout its curriculum and gives students plenty of opportunities to hear about policy issues, but it also helps register students and encourages them to vote either in York County or their hometowns.”
The university hopes to again be recognized as a voter-friendly campus in 2024.
Photo by Emma Crouch
