Civic engagement: understanding the impact your voice can have
"Our View" is prepared by the Editorial Board and should be considered the institutional voice of The Record.
When Minnesotans gathered at the Capitol chanting “No Kings,” they were not just protesting policy, but were demonstrating the civic engagement that is possible when people feel like their voice matters.
The Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul hosted a No Kings protest on Saturday, March 26. According to the MN Daily, there were 200,000 people in attendance, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda and Bruce Springsteen — who performed a song called “Streets of Minnesota” that he released during the ICE raids in January.
Operation Metro Surge brought ICE agents to Minnesota back in January, which damaged the economy by losing an estimate of $203 million, and separated many families. The operation has also resulted in the deaths of Minnesota residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti, deepening public outrage.
“The recent protest in Minnesota reflects the globalized awareness of the Operation Metro Surge and the impacts of ICE,” said Matt Lindstrom, director of the McCarthy Center and professor on campus. “These 5051 protests are an amazingly massive resistance against these actions.”
A protest of this size serves as a reminder of what civic engagement should look like. However, civic engagement extends beyond protests; college students like us play a crucial role in shaping what comes next. Civic engagement continues in classrooms, conversations and, most importantly, at the ballot box.
CSB+SJU is taking part in The All in Campus Democracy Challenge, a nonpartisan initiative that empowers college students to be a part of political engagement nationwide, which is just one of the ways they are trying to get students involved.
“The All In Campus Democracy Challenge is sponsored by a nonpartisan organization called “Civic Nation” that encourages undergraduates to be involved in the election processes and voting,” Lindstrom said. Another way The McCarthy Center is pushing students to get involved is the CSB+SJU Votes Coalition. “The CSB+SJU Votes Coalition, is a group of student clubs and faculty that encourages people to get out and vote,” Lindstrom said.
The U.S. midterm elections are being held Nov. 6 of this year, which could drastically impact which party holds both the House and the Senate. We should not assume that just because it is not a presidential election year, that these votes will not matter — they do.
As the Editorial board of The Record, we encourage you to get informed, involved and vote in November. Civic engagement is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it is a year-round process that goes beyond the voting booth. No matter who you vote for, it’s a responsibility that we cannot take for granted. No change or progress can be made without the active participation of every citizen, so start making your voting plan now and get involved in any way you can. From protests to conversations with friends, every piece of engagement matters.
For students looking for more resources, the Eugene J. McCarthy Center is a campus organization that empowers students through public policy and civic engagement. Visit the McCarthy Center webpage voting and election information page or contact: The McCarthy Center in Simons Hall 136, (320) 363-3266 or mccarthycenter@csbsju.edu.