Lt. Gov. Delgado Shares Advice with Saints

Not sure politics is your thing? Then find an issue that matters to you.

That's what New York's Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado said when he visited campus October 9. He met with 11 invited student leaders to assess Gen Z's interest level in government, then stopped by a table in the SSU staffed by a group getting their fellow Saints registered to vote.

"His main question for us was why some young people are not interested in voting," said Kristen Kiernan '25, who has been leading voter registration efforts on campus this semester. "The sentiment was shared that politics can often be dirty, and that there is a level of distrust between constituents and politicians. He encouraged us to find issues that are important to us, and fight for those through grassroots organizations and service."

After presenting Delgado with a "Siena Votes" T-shirt and other Siena swag, the group talked about a range of topics, including his start in politics, and the ways in which getting civically engaged as young people is particularly important for democracy.

Fortune Iheanetu '25 attended the discussion as a representative of Siena's Damietta Cross-Cultural Center. Although as an international student from Mozambique she can't vote in the United States, she believes it is "incredibly important" for Saints to register to vote.

"Civic engagement is key to shaping the future of our communities and ensuring that our voices are heard as young people," said Iheanetu. "I love volunteering to help others exercise their right to vote because I am still greatly impacted by the politics of this country. Being involved in this process is my way of contributing and supporting others in making their voices count."

Siena's Voter Friendly Campus initiative has been hosting tabling events this semester to register voters. Delgado visited a tabling event in the SSU that John DePerno '27 was staffing.

"I have been interested in politics since childhood, which is why I chose to major in political science, and have had the importance of voting instilled in me by my parents," said DePerno. "I never realized that some people do not care to vote, so it's important to me that I lead them towards using their voice in our government."

He found the lieutenant governor "very personable," and joked that he was disappointed that Delgado declined to endorse him for Siena's Student Senate.

Sophia Maddalone '26 was also working the voter registration table in the SSU.

"As college students, voting is a way to use our voice and share the views that matter most to us," she said. "Our generation can shape the outcome of an election but we can only do so if we use our voices."

Delgado's visit was arranged by Dan Lewis, Ph.D., professor of political science and international relations, and included a conversation with President Seifert in his office.

"This was a great opportunity for our student leaders to discuss the importance of voting and service to the community as pathways for community uplift," said Lewis. "Students were able to not only learn about the state's efforts to engage young people in community service, but they also provided the lieutenant governor with important insights into the perspectives of their peers on government and politics. It was a great chance to help students from across campus get registered and make a voting plan."