From Campus to the Ballot Box: UIW Students Get Voting Assistance

On Tuesday, Nov. 05, the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability provided transportation for dozens of students to get to their designated voting centers, with 80% of them being first-time voters.

"Access to knowledge and information, especially on critical days like Election Day, is imperative to ensure our UIW community is civically engaged," shared Rebecca Salazar, the Ettling Center's assistant director of Civic Engagement and Advocacy. "The Ettling Center is committed to providing opportunities for students to bring awareness of the voting process, access and their rights as citizens. Additionally, we were able to help many more students learn where their polling site was located, if they were registered to vote and assisted them with information on the proper identification necessary to vote."

On election day, three vans driven by Ettling Center personnel (Dr. Ricardo Gonzales, Ettling Center director, Teofilo Reyes Jr., Ettling Center assistant director, and Robert "Bobby" San Martin, Ettling Center program specialist) to and from voting centers. Many students returned to the Broadway campus with proud smiles and "I Voted" stickers in hand.

"I was thrilled and pleased to see our students take advantage of this valuable service and opportunity," said Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez, Ettling Center director. "It's important for us to inform, educate and engage with the voting process to demonstrate that we are responsible stewards and change-makers. We, the people!"

The Ettling Center looks forward to providing future opportunities, programs and meaningful experiences to UIW students and its campus community in alignment with the legacy of its founder, Sr. Dorothy "Dot" Ettling, CCVI.