A recent study found that while college campuses are rife with political activity, more than one-third of schools do not provide adequate opportunities for voter registration and absentee voting.
The study, released Monday, was conducted jointly by Harvard's Institute of Politics (IOP) and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The "Survey of college and university voter registration and mobilization efforts" found that politics have a stage on a majority of college campuses, with 80 percent of colleges hosting political speakers. But despite this fact, schools are not making the grade when it comes to aiding students with vote registration.
"Over one-third of schools surveyed need to stay after class," IOP Research Director David King said in a press release. "The law requires schools to do their part to help register students to vote - and the future of our democracy demands that we engage today's young people if we want them to become active citizens and leaders."
Universities and colleges are required by law to make voter registration available to students. The Higher Education Act of 1998 demands that colleges must be able to provide voter registration forms to students at least 120 days before the registration deadline.
Only 16.9 percent of schools in the survey were in compliance with the law, however. And when asked to self-assess their effectiveness at registering voters, over 36 percent of colleges graded themselves a "C" or below.
Although Tufts does not actively give students the forms, University President Lawrence Bacow said that he will be personally encouraging students to vote.
"I made a special plea in my matriculation address to get first-year students to register and vote," Bacow said. "I will be sending out a similar message to all other students."
"Also, Tufts University College of Citizenship and Public Service is making up badges for students to wear that say something to the effect, 'I am a Tufts student and I have registered to vote,'" Bacow said.
University College has also developed a Web site with information on polling places around the University, how to attain an absentee ballot, and links to national voter registration campaigns.
"Citizenship and Public Service Scholar Mary Smith organized a voter registration campaign as part of Tufts orientation," Dean of University College Rob Hollister said. "RAs [Resident Assistants] distributed voter registration forms to entering students and provided assistance in filling them out."
The RAs will collect the forms and mail them to the appropriate addresses.
But as the survey suggests, Tufts still could still be more proactive in facilitating voter registration.
Trinity College sends a letter reminding incoming first-years to register. "I would approve of Tufts doing something like that," sophomore Aaron Schutzengel said.
Schutzengel also mentioned off-campus efforts at increasing student turnout at the polls.
He pointed to the Web site VoteorNot.com. The Web site is by the creators of HotorNot.com, and offers prizes to those who sign into their site and encourage their friends to vote.
Non-university programs may have success in getting out the student vote, but The Chronicle and IOP believe the key to achieving high student voter turnout is centered on college campuses.
The Executive Summary of the survey states that "universities are in a prime position to ensure that the country's young people are encouraged to have their preferences represented on Election Day."
As Tufts students can attest, there is no shortage of political activity on the Hill. Tuftslife.com features links to get people to register and apply for absentees, for example.
"I also have seen a lot of people around campus trying to register students, definitely more than I did last year," sophomore Jake Becker said. "I think this year more than last most people on campus are aware that they should be responsible and Tufts is there to remind them."
The upcoming presidential election has been a hot topic in Tufts classrooms and common rooms alike. "Professors have mentioned the election, but not specifically urging students to vote," Becker said.
Some dorms are also getting political. In Hill Hall, students have mounted a fact sheet comparing the two candidates' opinions on certain issues.
The joint Harvard/Chronicle survey was compiled by contacting 815 college presidents, 249 of which responded by filling out a questionnaire.
