Student body presidents encourage fellow students to vote
Mayah J. Emerson
The Mississippi Public Universities Student Body Presidents’ Council encourages their fellow university students to let their voices be heard by making their mark at the ballot box. Voter registration drives will be held on all eight university campuses and the University of Mississippi Medical Center campus this week from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Some campuses may extend the time.
“As Student Body Presidents, our primary goal is to empower and amplify the student voice,” said Mayah J. Emerson, president of the Student Association at Mississippi State University and president of the Student Body Presidents’ Council.
“We are thrilled about the #MyVoteMatters movement because all nine of us understand that ultimate empowerment is achieved when students exercise their 15th amendment right to vote. This statewide initiative to encourage students to be civically engaged is more than just a voter registration drive, it is about empowering students,” she said.
The voter registration drives will be held on each campus on Tuesday [Sept. 25] and Wednesday [Sept. 26] with the exception of the University of Southern Mississippi, which will hold its voter registration drives on Tuesday [Sept. 25] and Thursday [Sept. 27.] The drives are promoted through social media with the hashtag #MyVoteMatters.
The voter registration drives coincide with National Voter Registration Day, held annually on the fourth Tuesday in September, to increase awareness of voter registration and encourage Americans to exercise their right to register and vote.
Student leaders are working with local Circuit Clerks to plan the voter registration drives and train volunteers who will help students register.
The voter registration drives will be held at the following locations:
-- Alcorn State University: Clinton Bristow Dining Facility
-- Delta State University: Student Union
-- Jackson State University: Student Center
-- Mississippi State University: Drill Field
-- Mississippi University for Women: Hogarth Cafeteria
-- Mississippi Valley State University: Vendor’s Square, Jacob Aron Student Union
-- University of Mississippi: Business Row
-- University of Mississippi Medical Center: Old School of Medicine Foyer, Tuesday [Sept. 25] and Student Union Wednesday [September 26]
-- University of Southern Mississippi: Century Park South Breezeway, Thad Cochran Center, Cook Library Plaza, Liberal Arts Building, Asbury Hall and Scianna Hall
The Student Body Presidents’ Council is comprised of the student body presidents at each of the public universities. They meet regularly to share information and work on initiatives that are important to students.
The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.
Caron Blanton | Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
