News

By Jillian Ellis

Lee University is preparing students to participate in upcoming local elections.

“We are encouraging our students to exercise their civic responsibility as community members by voting locally in Bradley County,” said Bethany McCoy, Coordinator of Community Relations at Lee.

Lee is emphasizing to students the importance of voting where they currently live and engage.

“I think the most efficient and personally impactful way of voting is in the area where you attend college,” said Dalton McBeath, a freshman from Maineville, Ohio. “I think it is very important to vote because it allows you to influence the present society and try to pursue a better future.”

Lee is hoping that of its almost 5,000 member student population, including 1,500 students who remain in Cleveland for the summer, a large portion will participate in the elections.

“Students need to realize that local politics can affect us just as much as national politics,” said Katherine Freeman, president of the Lee chapter of College Republicans.

McCoy said the university will provide information on candidates and an official on-campus voting site.

“Student organizations’ goals depend heavily on the process of local politics,” said Josiah Augustine, president of the Lee chapter of College Democrats. “One of the most important people in the fight against human trafficking in Bradley County will be the next Sheriff; the District Attorney will play a central role in combating corruption, which reinforces poverty; and the people elected to school board positions will ultimately direct the course of educational development for thousands of students.”

Lee is simplifying the voting process by providing students with a facility to register and vote without leaving campus. A booth providing registration slips will be set up in the Paul Conn Student Union beginning March 31. On-campus students may vote at the official polling site located in Lee’s Higginbotham Administration Building.

A website will be launched featuring information on the candidates and links to their promotional sites for Lee students. According to McCoy, the goal is to give students all available information at one place.

Lee provides students with politically based organizations, debates, and lectures they can use to expand their understanding of politics and their civic duties. Phi Beta Lambda – Future Business Leaders of America, recently hosted Congressman Mark Meadows discussing what students can do to stay involved with politics. The College Republicans hosted conservative speaker Mary Grabar in the fall.