Haas email aims to mobilizing campus vote
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In a campus-wide email sent on Oct. 15, Grand Valley State University President Thomas J. Haas detailed the importance of student’s role in the upcoming Nov. 6 election.
“November 6 – Election Day across the nation – will soon be here,” Haas began the email. “I encourage all members of the Grand Valley community to vote. This most fundamental of our rights is, to me, a sacred undertaking. In too many places around the globe, citizens seeking to vote confront intimidation, danger or other obstacles crafted to limit participation.
We should never take for granted the free and safe exercise of our right to vote.”
Haas, like the presidential candidates, is trying to “get out the vote” this election to the younger population of voters, who he said tend to participate in elections less than the older voters. His message to the GVSU community included a link to Michigan’s absentee voter application and a Detroit Free Press report detailing information about each of the proposals that will be included on the November ballot.
“I really hope that our citizens here in the state do their own reading and research on the different proposals,” Haas said. “This is quite unique because a couple of years ago there was one question about whether or not we needed a constitutional convention and the citizens said ‘no.’ Now we have an array of proposals that are out there to possibly change the constitution, and from that I believe people need to do a little reading their own research and come to their own conclusions.”
Voting, he said, is not only a right, but also a responsibility as an American – a constitutional privilege, but also a constitutional responsibility.
“(This vote) is a real privilege that we need to exercise because we as a people in our constitution clearly states that we have the responsibility for our nation and this is the way we exercise it,” he said.
Haas said the misconception that one vote doesn’t matter is lost in the final analysis. The proof can be summed up, he said, by history and, appropriately, a baseball metaphor.
“That our voices are heard because when you come down to it it’s kind of like a baseball game, there’s a lot of strikes and a lot of balls to be thrown and you would think that it’s just the last strike in a game that could make a difference and it really does,” Haas said. “I think that type of metaphor holds with voting too. There are a lot of votes out there but when you take the individual vote and combine it with the collective vote you have then the voice of the people and the direction we want to go as a nation.”
editorial@lanthorn.com
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Pictures of the Year 2012-2013
Courtesy Photo/Joe Kargula and Erik Peterson run the Marathon leg of the Ironman Triathlon
GVL / Robert Mathews Quarterback Heath Parling (12) leading the offense past Notre Dame College.
GVL / Eric Coulter Senior Jake Isaacson placed eigth in the Spartan Invitational. Isaacson's time of 25:04 was the highest among Division II athletes.
GVL/Jessica Hollenbeck Student Senate President Jack Iott speaks to the assembly during Thursday's meeting.
Courtesy / gvsu.edu President Haas and Montcalm Community College President Robert C. Ferrentino sign the transfer agreement
Courtesy Photo/ GVSU Athletic Department Sophomore Chris Cunningham lines up a putt at a past match.
Courtesy Photo / GVSULakers.com Andrew Darrell prepares to return the serve earlier this season.
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Archive Forward Briauna Taylor (31) chases down a lose ball in a game last season
Courtesy Photo / Dean Breest Sophomore Allyson Winchester was named the GLIAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year after finishing first with a time of 20:48.8.
GVL / Archive GVSU's Breland Hogan rises and fires over three defenders last season.
GVL/Bo Anderson Briauna Taylor leads the fast break during a game earlier this season.
GVL / Robert Mathews Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning, James Moyer, leading a walk through of the Mary Ideam Pew Library
Courtesy Photo / GVSU DII Men's Hockey Jeremy Christopher chases down a puck during a matchup last season.
GVL / Bo Anderson Students and faculty danced under the spectacular light show in the Devos Place Ballroom
GVL / Robert Mathews Martin L�wenberg, holocaust survivor, speaking at the Genocide Awareness Night presentation in the Grand River Room.
Courtesy / Dean Breest Senior Sam Lockhart finishes her indoor career with two individual national championships in weight throw and shot put at the 2013 National Championships.
Archive / Robert Mathews Giancarlo Brugnoni (40) rounding the bases during a previous game.
GVL/Bo Anderson Seniors Christ Koppenaal, Bill Madsen, and Mitch Weber measure the exterior of the Wesley House as part of an energy audit.
GVL / Robert Mathews Senior Anthony Campanella pitching against Tiffin University during the Lakers double header.
GVL / Eric Coulter Brother Jed Smock, a member of Campus Ministry USA, speaks with fervor to a student. Many students, all with differing views, came to watch the Campus Ministry members speak.
GVL / Sean Mouton A passing walker stops to admire some recently constructed pieces of Art Prize 2012.
GVL Archive Senior Nick Gunthorpe follows through and watches his shot at the Ardenson last year. This weekend the team will be playing in South Haven.
GVL / Bo Anderson GVSU's Katie Martin points to her teammate after safely reaching second base.
GVL / Robert Mathews Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons under construction.
GVL / Archive The Grand Valley Rowing Team during Spring Training in Florida last spring.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
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