Students Learn Importance of Civic Engagement

This September, Northampton Community College (NCC) students took part in events that centered on the topic of civic duty and engagement. The college celebrated Constitution Day and Voter Registration Day on Sept. 17, educating students on issues affecting voters, candidate platforms and democracy. On Sept. 20, four students spent the day at the state's capital for the Pennsylvania Student Voting Summit. 

During Voter Registration Day and Constitution Day at NCC’s Bethlehem campus, groups like the Hispanic American Cultural Club (HACC) and Women’s Club talked with students about issues affecting their communities and provided valuable information surrounding registering to vote. Attendees enjoyed pizza courtesy of Pizza to the Polls, an organization that gives free food to people who are participating in nonpartisan events focused on voter education and registration. Student Life held Constitution bingo and helped students register to vote. Many students, faculty, and staff signed a democracy wall to be displayed on Bethlehem campus. 

“The wall is for people to write out what democracy means to them. For some, it means freedom. For others, it means the ability to make choices on issues effecting Americans today, and for others still, it means something entirely different,” said Vincent Caminneci, this year’s Newman Civic Fellow. 

The PA Student Voting Summit took place in Harrisburg and was organized by one of NCC’s national partners, Campus Votes Project, in collaboration with national civic engagement partners including the ALL-IN Campus Democracy Challenge and the Fair Elections Center. There, NCC students were joined by several other colleges and universities, giving them the opportunity to connect with other campus communities working on civic engagement and voter education across the state. NCC Votes ambassadors, Caminneci and Chris DeLeon, and political science majors, Marlena Bednar and Carlos De Leon Rivera, joined NCC’s Assistant Director of Student Life & Leadership Development, Nykolai Blichar at the Forum Auditorium, located right near the legislature. 

The Summit allowed students to engage with a panel of elected officials and explore the PA State Capitol. Students learned about addressing barriers to student voting, the dangers of misinformation, and how to run for office themselves. Students also learned more about why every student has a responsibility to enhance civic participation in our electoral process. 

“The ability to connect with your peers, talk about best practices, and figure out ways to solve challenges and barriers to student voting is important, and summits like this provide that opportunity,” said Blichar. 

Students have until October 21 to register to vote or update their voter registration. NCC Votes will be hosting voter registration and information tables every Monday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout College Center on the Bethlehem campus leading up to the election to help students with their voter related questions, register to vote, apply for mail-ballots, and more. In addition, students who need assistance with transportation to the polls can email Nykolai Blichar at nblichar@northampton.edu about Lyft credits provided by NCC Student Life. Check out all the events planned for NCC’s Voter Education Week, Sept. 30 – Oct. 7, by visiting northampton.edu/events.