by Bonnie H. Chuen
Staff Writer
A luminous black van rolled through the streets of La Verne with the license plate “MDN ROCK” signaling a wave of reaction from students who were hoping to pick up free Y-107 gear.
However, students were in for a surprise when they realized the van was not there to promote the radio station. Instead, the van was there for a more important reason; the civil duty of all citizens to vote.
Last Thursday was the second voter registration drive of the year to hit the University, co-sponsored by Y-107 FM, and the Associated Students Federation (ASF) Forum. The League of Women Voters held a voter registration drive for new students during Orientation.
“We wanted to get involved and help,” said Laura Spears, member of the Y-107 street team.
Spears, along with Tony Rodriguez, another Y-107 representative, set up a table outside the Student Center to get students registered, as well as to “help kids out,” he said.
The table was set up for an hour. The goal was to get as many students interested as possible, by attracting them with the Y-107 station van and the gear being given away.
The members of ASF also thought it was important for the campus to become more politically involved. According to junior Dan Lougheed, vice president for ASF, the voter registration drive was a “combination of increased involvement and a chance for student to register. Our goal is to get the University more politically involved.”
Organizing the event was Board of Trustees Representative Scott Mac Kay, a senior. According to junior Tracey Landisi, ASF president, the idea of putting on a voter registration drive had been in the works since the summer. When Dawn De Pierro, a University of La Verne alumna and a representative from Y-107, contacted ASF, both parties agreed that it would be a “great idea for people to get out and vote,” said Landisi.
The voter registration table was set up for an hour between 1-2 p.m. According to Rodriguez and Spears, between 30-40 students registered.
The turnout from the campus was positive, according to Rodriguez.
“It’s important because the younger people of the nation need to get involved for the future,” said freshman Jeremy Collins, one of those registering that day.
Along with the voter registration drive, Spears and Rodriguez also handed out bumper stickers, pencils and t-shirts. There was a drawing after the registration drive for tickets to an upcoming Sheryl Crow concert.
