Sept. 30, 2008

One week remains to register to vote

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Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

The fundamental role of a great university is to prepare its students for their role as active and engaged citizens. We do that through education and by setting an example of how best to make our voices heard.

With the voter registration deadline rapidly approaching, and the general election following closely, it is crucial that the Western Michigan University community work together to ensure all of its members are ready to exercise their most basic right of citizenship—casting a vote to help set the nation’s future direction.

Student voter registration and education is a priority at Western Michigan University. I urge you to take advantage of the student organization efforts, as well as the resources offered on our WMU Web site, to further this priority. On that site, you will find links to nonpartisan resources that can be used to provide information and answer basic questions.

This is the last week to register to vote, and there will be voter registration efforts daily on campus. During this week of Homecoming, we will be showing our Bronco pride. One important point of pride is that we are a great academic establishment that supports the registration and education of some of the brightest students in the nation. We encourage students and peers to seek out the different tables in the Bernhard Center and near the flagpoles during the next week to register to vote. To find out where these tables will be located, please visit www.wsa.wmich.edu.

In addition to registering students and others to vote by Monday, Oct. 6, it is imperative that students, faculty and staff prepare for Election Day by becoming educated about the candidates and issues. We ask that the WMU community use the nonpartisan resources found through our WMU home page to stay up to date on election information, as well as voting regulations.

This is an exciting time for all of us. Many of our students are first-time voters and will have their first opportunity to exercise one of the greatest privileges we enjoy as citizens. We ask that each of you cast your vote in order to maintain a healthy democracy in the United States and to make Western Michigan University proud.

Best regards,

John M. Dunn
President of Western Michigan University

Danielle Harik
President of the Western Student Association