MARIST CIRCLE 1 • PRINT EDITION OUT BI-WEEKLY ON TUESDAYS POUGHKEEPSIE, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2019 MARISTCIRCLE.COM | VOL 74 ISSUE 5 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POUGHKEEPSIE COMMUNITY AWARENESS FEATURES PAGE 4 FEATURES | PAGE 5 Around Marist Voting and Registration Rates Increase the Circle BY SARAH LYNCH Features Editor Marist Voting National Student Marist Student Registration Rate Voting Rate Voting Rate Your Bi-Weekly The votes are in – on Sept. 19, Marist 100 100 100 News Briefing received a comprehensive report of 79.0% campus voting and registration rates 80 80 80 from the 2014 and 2018 midterm elec- 62.5% 60 60 60 tions, revealing an increase in student 39.1% participation across the board. 40 40 40 30.5% SPACEWALK This change comes after a number of 20% 20 20 20 12.7% The first ever all-female spacewalk student-led initiatives on the college’s was conducted Friday Oct 18, their campus sought to galvanize students’ 0 0 0 mission was to replace a faulty bat- civic engagement; but despite notable 2014 2018 2014 2018 2014 2018 success, Marist continues to lag behind tery unit. After a previously failed national averages. & Higher Education at Tufts Universi- 39.1%, compared to Marist’s 30.5%. In you most and to be able to find out what all-female space walk seven months ty and joined the institute’s National 2014, less than 20% of the student pop- candidates align with your values.” ago due to improper stock on the In- Study of Learning, Voting, and Engage- ulation voted. Moving forward, Gaeke said that ternational Space Station of space- ment (NSLVE) to gather data about stu- McCarthy now works at When We All Marist may join with ALL IN Campus suits, astronaut Jessica Meir and “ Increasing dent civic participation. Vote, a nonpartisan not-for-profit ded- Democracy Challenge, a non-profit or- The data gathered shows that Marist’s icated to closing the race and age gap ganization that would analyze Marist’s Christina Koch successfully com- students civic voting rates increased by 12.7% and in voting, which has enhanced her own NSLVE data and help “change civic cul- pleted the historic spacewalk. participation registration rates increased by 16.5%, insight into the challenges that face ture and institutionalize democratic en- needs to be a approximately, between 2014 and young voters across the nation. Certain gagement activities and programs” on 2018. Marist maintains a high voter states do not allow student IDs as a campus, per the organization’s website. priority registration rate – almost 80% – but valid forms of identification or enforce McCarthy echoed the importance of SLEEP OUT less than half of those eligible votes stricter voting registration criteria, institutionalizing on-campus initiatives Marist students will be donning ” went to the polls. Other statistics share among other challenges. Other times, so that when student leaders graduate, more encouraging insight; namely, the McCarthy noted that potential voters these programs live on and become sleeping bags and thick sweatshirts Julia McCarthy ‘19 number of absentee ballots submitted talk themselves out of going to the accessible to more students. Working Nov 1 for the 3rd annual sleep out skyrocketed from 79 in 2014 to 428 in polls, daunted by worries of not being with First Year Programs and including on the campus green. This tradition 2018. well-informed enough to cast a vote. voter registration tables at orientation In February, Dr. Melissa Gaeke, a polit- McCarthy spearheaded this effort with “You need to meet people where they would further integrate these initiatives is held to raise awareness for youth ical science professor at Marist, attend- her honors senior thesis project, orga- already are and you need to give people to reach more students and potential homelessness and garner funds for ed the National Campaign for Political nizing voter registration across campus the tools to empower them to feel as voters, changing the college culture to- and Civic Engagement conference at River Haven, a local teen homeless ahead of the 2018 midterms. though they are qualified and capable of ward civic engagement. Harvard University alongside Marist shelter. While happy with the improvements, casting a ballot in an educated way,” Mc- “‘Advancing the Social Good’ is a pillar alumna Julia McCarthy and Marist stu- McCarthy said, “it’s really disappointing Carthy said. She added that “you don’t of [Marist’s] strategic plan, and increas- dents Pam Armas ‘20 and Gabrielle to see where we started.” Even with the have to be a political science major and ing students’ civic participation needs Salko ‘21. increases, Marist’s statistics lie well be- you don’t have to watch the news every to be a priority in achieving that goal,” After the conference, Marist part- low the national average. The 2018 vot- second of every day to be an educated McCarthy said. STEEL PLANT nered with the Institute for Democracy Steel Plant Studios hosted a Hispan- ing rates for all institutions in 2018 was voter or to know which issues matter to ic Heritage Fashion and Art Exhibit. This exhibit showcased students hispanic culture through their work. The exhibition was sponsored by the Center for Multicultural Affairs Eleanor Roosevelt Medal Ceremony and the Marist Fashion Planning Program. Chelsea Clinton among recipients in Hyde Park BY TARA GUAIMANO DISABILITY Editor-in-Chief AWARENESS October 21 to 28 is Disabilities Marist College President Dennis J. Awareness Week, the Office of Ac- Murray and his wife, Marilyn, shared a commodation and Accessibility will brunch table with the Clintons last Sun- day, along with other former and cur- be holding special events to educate rent recipients of the Eleanor Roosevelt on the programs they provide and Val-Kill award. hands-on technology demonstra- Chelsea Clinton was only one of five tions. medalists at the 32nd annual Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Ceremony, where she was recognized for her work in global health advocacy and women’s rights FOR THE RECORD education. “Eleanor fundamentally believed that Don’t forget to nominate someone if children could understand what hu- you believe should be featured in man rights are, why they are import- For the Record 2020. We are looking ant and why we each only have them, for students of all years and majors ultimately if we all have them,” Chelsea Clinton said in her speech. “That’s why who have inspiring and compelling she wrote children’s books, it’s also why stories. Want to be part of our team? I write children’s books.” Look out on our social media (@ President Murray earned the same maristcircle) to nominate and apply Val-Kill medal in 1996, one year after Hillary Rodham Clinton was awarded to open positions! hers. Hillary Clinton was there to pres- ent the medal to her daughter, Chelsea Clinton — marking the first moth- er-daughter presentation in its history. Contact our Managing Editor to submit a news tip: President Dennis Murray and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the 2019 Medals Continues on page 2 Ceremony at Valkill. Hillary Clinton presented ERVK Medal to her daughter, Chelsea Clinton. [email protected] Photo taken by Tara Guaimano 2 • INSPIRING STUDENT VOICES EST. 1941 POUGHKEEPSIE, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2019 MARISTCIRCLE.COM MARIST CIRCLE NEWS ERVK Medal include Gloria Steinem, Pete Seeger, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Eleanor Roosevelt Medal Chelsea Clinton ended her speech, “Even in this moment of horror and disappointment in our leaders because Ceremony Continued we’ve had leaders like Eleanor Roos- A crowd of over 300 people gathered in human rights and social justice. The evelt before and we will again.” at the Eleanor Roosevelt National His- other 2019 recipients included Hyde Growing up on the Val-Kill historic toric Site in Hyde Park for the event, in- Park community builders, John and site, Gibson works to embody the spirit cluding over a dozen Marist community Gloria Golden, global journalist and hu- of her grandmother by moving the nee- members. manitarian, Zainab Salbi, and champion dle in social justice. “I lived in the Stone “The Medals Ceremony honors wom- of gender rights and president and CEO Cottage, and I went to school in Hyde en and men who have contributed to of Celebrity Cruises, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. Park,” she said. “The Hudson Valley is the legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt in so “So many people didn’t understand or my home.” many fields,” said Nina Roosevelt Gib- didn’t appreciate [Eleanor Roosevelt] The foundation aims to honor Eleanor son, Vice Chair on the ERVK Board and or really didn’t support her at all in Roosevelt’s legacy by inspiring youth a granddaughter of Eleanor and Frank- what she was saying,” Hillary Clinton across the globe to lead in social justice lin D. Roosevelt. “These are people who said in her speech. “So I have to say that and humanitarian efforts. have found their voice and stood up for my daughter understands that at the Among their youth programs is Girls’ others.” core of her being, the truest test of a Leadership Worldwide, which helps Each recipient was awarded for their society is how we treat the most vulner- raise money for girls ages 14-16 to ex- excellence in embodying the values and able among us.” perience an 8-day leadership program. legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt in her work Other noteable past honorees of the “This enables us to give these young women an incredible experience where well as other that trade their privacy they can begin to develop their own and normalcy to be something more.” self-confidence and be a leader in their She shook my hand, “I love Marist col- communities in the way they choose,” lege,” she said.