Tusculum College “Rocks the Vote”

As a Civic Arts institution, Tusculum College’s mission is to engage the community and to encourage students to become engaged citizens of the world. To support this mission, the Tusculum College Rock the Vote event will provide avenues for students and members of the community to register to vote.

The event will be held on September 18-21.

“The day after the 2016 election, I walked into a class full of freshmen students who were upset about the results,” said Dr. Michael Bodary, associate professor of English and one of the organizers of the event. “I asked for a show of hands for how many people had voted: only two out of sixteen students had bothered. You’ve got two options: you either get the government you voted for or you get the government you didn’t vote for.”

On Monday, Sept.18, there will be a showing of the movie “Recount” at 7 p.m. It will take place at the Behan Arena Theatre with a discussion about polling and statistics by Shannon Brewer, assistant professor of mathematics. There will be (all-American) apple pie. This will count as an arts and lecture credit event for residential students.

Recount” is a film focusing on the 2000 United States Presidential election, specifically the Bush v. Gore case that took place over the controversial Florida recount. Starring Kevin Spacey, “Recount” explores the drama surrounding one of the most controversial presidential elections in U.S. history.

Students in Greeneville can register to vote Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m.

Students in Morristown or Knoxville can register to vote at the Morristown or Knoxville sites on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 5-8:15 p.m.

For international students, there will be a separate mock election where these students can cast their vote for a US candidate to understand the difference between the two groups as well as providing an international perspective.

Registered student voters can participate in a repeat of the 2016 election, voting between Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or Gary Johnson.

 

 

By Sydney McCallister, freshman English and History major from Greeneville