Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
By Gianni Matteo
The Johnson Center for Civic Engagement is here to make sure Susquehanna students can make themselves heard this November through voting, it’s a mission that has been ongoing since the late sixties and continues to this day.
Jordain Moore, the coordinator of the Johnson Center, is intensely dedicated to continuing the mission of David and Sharon Johnson. Moore began her career in local community engagement through a volunteer position at a charter school in Salt Lake City, where she mentored 86 children.
When asked to discuss what drove her to become involved in her career path, Moore said, “The impact that supporting people to be the best they can be has inspired me to continue to help students see the impact they can make on the world.”
Moore especially believes that one of the best ways to let students see the impact they can have on the world is through the voting process. This is especially important, as the upcoming midterm elections tend to have a far lower turnout compared to the presidential elections. Therefore, the Johnson Center has engaged in several initiatives that aim to increase the number of students registered to vote, the biggest being Voter Registration and Education week.
Starting on Monday, Oct. 3, and ending on Friday, Oct. 7, the center will be engaging in a new event every day to get students to vote. On Monday, the Johnson Center will be giving free t-shirts out in Mellon lounge to early and mail-in voters. On Tuesday, there will be an event on Degenstein patio called ‘Doggone Democracy’, where volunteers will be registering students alongside some dogs for students to pet. On Wednesday, there will be trivia about voting and registration in Mellon Lounge, with the winner receiving a Choco-Taco. Hence the name of the event, ‘Let’s Taco About Voting’. There will be a bake sale held on Degenstein Patio, with registered voters, early voters and those who have taken the pledge to vote receiving free baked goods. On Friday, there will be a voter party at Hawk’s Nest in which you can receive a drink from Charlie’s if you voted early, took the voting pledge, or have a plan to vote. Most of these events require you to be registered to vote, which you can easily do online or if you visit the Johnson Center itself. In order to be fully registered to vote, you only need to prove a valid ID, driver’s license, or your full social security number.
“Voting is the single easiest and most impactful way to make a difference in your community, so don’t think your vote doesn’t matter. Make your voice heard and vote in every election,” says Moore.