Students: Get Out and Vote on McMicken Commons

University of Cincinnati undergraduates can vote for student body president and vice president, plus enjoy a free lunch, entertainment and a debate between the opposing candidates when UC Student Government sponsors Get Out the Vote 2002 on Wednesday, April 17, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on McMicken Commons. At noon, UC President Joseph A. Steger will open the debate between the two slates running for president and vice president.

The opposing slates for president/vice president are Darren Tolliver and Justin Awls (slate five), and Shawn Dolan and Hannah Seoh (slate nine). Michael P. Hamilton, CCM Senator and chair of the UC student senate elections facilitation committee, says the debate will address issues including state funding in higher education, reinstatement of the tuition cap, and life in the UC residence halls.

Hamilton adds the committee is working to get 5,002 votes in 2002. "Students need to know that this is how they can have an impact on the university. They need to vote to elect the student government that they feel will best represent the students."

Voting opens at 8 a.m. Monday, April 15 through an electronic poll, which students can access from any computer. Students will need their student ID and PIN number. The web address for student voting will be announced on April 15. Polls will be open April 15-17 from 8 a.m. to midnight and on Thursday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The winning candidates will be announced Friday, April 19, at 5 p.m. in the Student Government Pavilion.

Get Out the Vote 2002 on McMicken Commons will have laptop computers for students to place their vote online. Hamilton says lunch will include Papa John's Pizza, hamburgers, garden burgers, hotdogs, chips and soda. UC Student Organizations and Activities will provide a caricature artist and other entertainment.

Also, UC Republicans will be registering voters for the local, state and federal elections. Hamilton says the elections facilitation committee is working to make Get Out the Vote 2002 the largest on campus daytime event of the year.