The ballots are in: about 11,000 students from around the state voted in the largest mock Internet election ever, held Oct. 26. But for the Youth Leadership Initiative program at the University's Center for Governmental Studies, the vote was not simply a chance to make history. Instead, it was one step closer to YLI's goal of getting young people involved in the political scene.
As both Larry J. Sabato and Ken Stroupe can attest, politicians start young. Sabato, the founder of the University's Center for Governmental Studies and government and foreign affairs professor, has been involved in politics for 39 years. Sabato said he began this career at the age of 10 when he helped pass out fliers for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign.
Similarly, Stroupe, the director of the Youth Leadership Initiative, recounted with a shy smile how politics were what excited him most as a young man. During his high school years, Stroupe was president of student government and the Virginia Student Council Association.
The Youth Leadership Initiative, part of the Center for Governmental Studies, began last spring to help combat the widespread political apathy among young people.
Sabato said he is astounded by the lack of involvement of voters of all ages in politics.
"This country is blessed with riches and one of the best systems of education and yet we lack an electorate that realizes the urgent need for collective civil action," he said.
He added that he believes the main focus of YLI is encouraging people to vote.
"Civic action begins with the vote," Sabato said.
For Stroupe, voting is an integral part of being involved in politics.
"Involvement is key," he said.
Behind his desk, Stroupe sifts through papers and then hands over a heavily highlighted document; the statistics on the sheet chart voter involvement. He points out that the voter turnout among young people ages 18 to 24 was below 30 percent in the 1996 election.
"With this program, I want to get young people interested. A lot of kids think that because they can't vote, they don't have a voice. But what they don't realize is that they are citizens. Citizens have the ability to change things and to get involved," he said.
He added that he took on the position as director of YLI simply because he believes in the cause.
His office illustrates this devotion in the Youth Leadership Initiative posters hung on the walls, in the papers strewn across his desk in a haphazard fashion and from the photo albums and scrapbooks full of YLI event coverage.
Stroupe worked for former Virginia Gov. George Allen (R) during his terms as governor and representative, but turned down an offer to run for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates to come to the University in 1998.
He began the Youth Leadership Initiative with a clear vision in March of this year.
"I wanted to put together a program that I could look at and say, 'Man, I wish I'd had that when I was a student,'" he said.
Since his appointment in March, Stroupe has organized events such as the mock election, in addition to contributing to several handbooks and workshop manuals to be used by area teachers in conjunction with YLI at the University.
"A lot of time in school, government and history classes are not subjects that kids get enthusiastic about, but I think that this program can help change that," Stroupe said.
The Internet election in which 11,000 students from 17 area middle and high schools participated, was the first stage of the Youth Leadership Initiative's goal to get kids to vote.
"YLI is not simply mock trials," Stroupe said.
He said his goal is to have YLI expand to the rest of Virginia by the fall of 2000 and then to the rest of the country by 2004. The initiative will involve middle and high school students in such activities as student-run debates, field trips and an in-class program of studies.
"What makes this program different from something like Rock the Vote or other organizations aimed at getting kids to vote, is that this is more academically oriented," Stroupe said.
Sabato said YLI is a "mission" program that specifically targets young people.
"Our goal is nothing less than the transformation of civic education from kindergarten through college," he said.
He added that the appearance of youth interest in politics will be the beginning of real change in the entire electorate.
Stroupe explained how students will be able to apply what they learn in their classes to political activities in the community.
"One example is the student run-debates we had last month," he said.
Students nominated by their area schools participated in actual debates with Del. Paul Harris (R-58), State Sen. Emily Couric (D-Charlottesville) and Democrat Ed Wayland, a House of Delegates candidate.
"Students prepared for the debates in their government and history classes ahead of time," Stroupe said.
Other activities in which area students will be able to participate are mock town meetings, mock school board meetings and even a presidential debate in the spring of 2000.
"We are going to invite the actual candidates," Stroupe said. "But if they cannot attend, then we will simply have surrogates."
He said the emphasis will be on getting students to ask their own questions, fueled by their own ideas. The meetings also will be open to the public and Stroupe said he hopes student interest in politics will rub off on local adults as well.
Sabato said University students will also have a chance to be involved in the Initiative. Interns at the Center for Governmental Studies will have the chance to serve as ambassadors in the YLI-sponsored activities. University students also assisted in the Internet mock elections at area high schools, he said.
"If we are going to activate the electorate and correct the problem in a serious, sustained way, then we must start with the young," he added.
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