Directly aligning with the university Boldly Elon strategic plan, events are planned for students to play a role in civic engagement and civil discourse.
Elon University is nationally recognized for its civic engagement, acting as one of the model campuses for the Carnegie Classification on Civic Engagement, even earning a President Award in the first President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
Throughout the academic year, as well as over breaks, a plethora of events are organized by the university to ensure Elon students become global citizens and well-rounded leaders.
“It is crucial that we help prepare our students to play an active role in our democracy. Furthermore, we need to help students develop the necessary skills to engage in dialogue with those who think differently to find common ground and advance the public good,” said Bob Frigo, assistant dean of Campus Life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.
Spring 2022 Civic Engagement Opportunities
Active Citizen Series: Eric Liu: Become America – How to Revive Our Belief in Democracy Watch Event
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Moseley Center First Floor
The Elon community will gather to watch this talk presented by Eric Liu, co-founder and CEO of Citizen University, a nonprofit national platform that fosters citizenship through activism, communication, and education.
He launched and now directs the Aspen Institute’s Citizenship and American Identity Program to advance conversation about the nature of American national identity. The son of Chinese immigrants, Liu was a White House speechwriter and deputy domestic policy advisor for former President Bill Clinton. He is the author of several books including, “The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker,” “The Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen” and “Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility and Democracy.” The talk is sponsored by the Council on Civic Engagement, Elon Core Curriculum, North Carolina Campus Compact and Kernodle Center for Civic Life.
Active Citizen Series: Deliberative Dialogue – Back to Work: How Should We Rebuild Our Economy?
Monday, Feb. 28, 4:30 p.m.
Lakeside 212
The pandemic swiftly brought the nation’s economy to a near standstill in 2020. Just as an earthquake reveals flaws in a building, the pandemic and the shutdown brought to light hidden truths in our economy – How tenuously many small businesses cling to survival; how many of the people doing essential jobs are women and people of color; and how much the country relies on other nations for vital products and services. Moving forward, what changes should be made in the way we live and work?
The Deliberative Dialogue event is an opportunity for students to gather and exchange diverse views and experiences to seek a shared understanding of a challenge facing our society and to search for common ground for action. Registration is required to attend and can be found here.
Active Citizen Series: State of the Union Watch Event
Tuesday, March 1, 9 p.m.
LaRose Student Commons
The Elon community will gather to watch President Joe Biden give his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. The State of the Union is a communication between the President and Congress in which the chief executive reports on the current conditions of the United States and provides policy proposals for the upcoming legislative year.
2022 Midterm Elections
Although Election Day, Nov. 8, seems like a long way off, now is the time for the Elon community to make their preparations to vote this year. The Council on Civic Engagement, Elon Political Engagement Work Group and Kernodle Center for Civic Life make voter registration easy for students who are eligible to vote in U.S. elections.
The Elon Votes! website is a tool for primary election dates, voter registration forms and absentee ballot forms. The university has made it simple for students to register to vote through a partnership with TurboVote. We very purposefully drive all students to our website so we can be sure that they are provided with accurate information. Finally, you can direct students to the Kernodle Center for Civic Life (Moseley Center 232) if they need help registering to vote, obtaining an absentee ballot, or are in need of an envelope or stamp.