Having classes on election day seems inhumane.
Millikin is having classes on election day, which is unfair. In the past, Millikin has made an effort to have scheduling day on election day so that there would be no classes. But for the most important election of our time, Millikin has decided to throw that idea out of the window.
Gen Z is the generation that votes the least, and Gen Z makes up a majority of Millikin students. So, does Millikin want to encourage us to vote? Or do they want to interfere with our chance to vote?
Regardless of why they have decided to have classes on election day, Millikin is hindering our chance to vote.
Some professors are canceling classes because of election day, and many have decided to continue to observe classes.
In hindsight, this isn’t that big of a deal. Many classes only last an hour and 15 minutes on Tuesdays, so if students have only two classes, then they have more than enough time to vote.
That’s if they can vote in Decatur.
But what about those who have to travel several hours to go and vote in their region? I know some people will have to drive three hours to vote, then they must come back and attend classes.
It isn’t fair that students have to strategically plan out when we are going to vote just because we have classes.
My Tuesdays start at 11:00 am and end at 4 pm. I have to travel 30 minutes away to vote, so after my long day at school, I will have to rush to go vote.
Now, what about those who have to go vote in Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, and many other states? Yes, there is an option to vote absentee, but many students may not be comfortable with absentee voting.
There are many conspiracy theories surrounding absentee voting and mail-in voting in general. Regardless of what is true or not, I know that voting in person can set a person’s mind at ease.
The Office of Campus Life also wants students to sign up and help with assistance to make the voting process easier.
So Millikin wants us to attend classes, volunteer our time, and vote. All on the same day.
Students can either sign up to drive a van to transport people to vote, walk students from the Woods to go vote at the Nursing Suite, and help at tables to assist with signups and direct voters to the right places.
Of course, volunteering to help out on election day is amazing, and everyone who should go out and help. But Millikin has made that harder for students to do.
If I had that day off from school, I wouldn’t hesitate to volunteer. But since I have school, work, and still have to go vote. It’s just not something I can do.
So, I would love for Millikin to make their mind up. Do you want us to vote? Or are classes more important than exercising our rights as American citizens?
