Temple Greek life organizations like Pi Kappa Phi, Kappa Delta Rho and Alpha Epsilon Phi hosted a voter registration drive at the Bell Tower on Thursday.
Jamie Gustas, the campus involvement chair for AEPhi and the event’s organizer, said 75 people registered at the event, which was run by members of all four Greek life councils that have member chapters at the university –– the National Multicultural Greek Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the National Panhellenic Conference and the Interfraternity Conference.
Gustas said Emma González, a Parkland shooting survivor, inspired her to organize the event.
“She tweeted that she would love to see the Greek community at different universities come together and promote social forwarding as a whole,” Gustas said. “So we thought we should take on the initiative of hosting a voter registration drive in order to promote voter registration on college campuses for this certain population and really coming together as a community.”
This is the first time Temple Greek life has hosted a voter registration drive. Gustas said she chose to focus on voting in order to make change on campus.
“Voting enables us to be able to be part of change that we wish to see,” she said.
Moriba Diallo, a sophomore civil engineering major, transferred to Temple this year and registered to vote in Philadelphia at the event.
“Everyone can vote to contribute to the change,” Diallo said.
“You need a voice for your country,” said Raymond Abney, the philanthropy chair for Pi Kappa Phi, who was helping register students. “Everybody should vote, it’s a democracy.”
Joe Arnold, a member of Pi Kappa Phi and sophomore finance major, said voting is especially important for college-age people.
“We are setting the future,” Arnold said. “Especially with everything [political] going on now, it’s necessary.”
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 9. Read The Temple News’ guide to learn more about the process.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Deputy City Editor Will Bleier is an organizing fellow for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. He took no part in the editing or reporting of this article. Deputy Campus Editor Alyssa Biederman previously canvassed for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. She took no part in the editing or reporting of this article.
Fantastic site. A lot of helpful info here. I’m sending it to some pals ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thank you to your effort!
Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful article.
Thank you for providing this information.