The Wahoo Informational Service to the Electorate is handing out pamphlets providing information about the general election around Grounds this morning, continuing an initiative to provide easier access to political information.
Every week for the remainder of the semester, WISE will focus on an issue in the upcoming presidential election, outline it and give a brief description of each candidate's stance, all within an easy-access pamphlet, WISE founder Thomas Yeatts said.
"The idea is that most students aren't regular participants in politics," Yeatts said. "We are just trying to provide them with easy access to the information."
Today's pamphlet focused on healthcare. Yeatts said the information is non-partisan and the group wants students to participate in politics regardless of their beliefs.
"We are trying to attract people who are not normally interested in politics," he said. "We want them to read about an issue and find out that they have opinions that they didn't know they had. I'd like to see more students voting more often and more conscientiously."
WISE already has published three informtional newspapers this year but has been constrained by lack of funding.
The Center for Politics also will promote several activities over the coming election year to help young people become more interested in politics.
"Given that this is a presidential election year and you finally have an opportunity to reach through to a wider audience, we will be focusing on helping teachers and parents to get their students and children interested in politics," said Joshua Scott, director of programs at the Center for Politics.
Events will include a variety of speakers and panel discussions on youth political engagement, Scott said.
The Center also will conduct the largest mock presidential election ever conducted on the Internet, he added. Middle and high school students from all 50 states are expected to particpate in the election, which will be held the week before the real election.
"We want young people to realize the power they can have in affecting policy outcomes," Scott said.
Center for Politics Director Larry J. Sabato will publish a guide to the 2004 presidential election in August.
The book, titled "Get in the Booth!," will be a review of all of the major issues and policies the American public faces when they cast their vote for president, Sabato said.
The book also will have a Web site connected to it that will be updated every week with new developments, issues and campaign controversies in each of the policy and campaign areas.
"For once, the printed word does not stop with the publication of the book," Sabato said. "We will be able to stay up to the minute with the readers until they have to cast their ballot. It is an exciting concept that will be very demanding and time consuming, but we hope it will be helpful to voters."
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