Suffolk Reporter

In a far-reaching effort to highlight the different ways students can participate in the upcoming election, Stony Brook’s Presidential Election Planning and Coordination Committee (PEPCC) is offering several resources and engagement opportunities on campus.

While the Center for Civic Justice (CCJ) is largely responsible for co-curricular civic engagement programming, PEPCC was originally introduced in 2020 to bring together partners outside of Student Affairs, including faculty, staff, students, undergraduate student government, and graduate student government. Since then, PEPCC has enhanced existing efforts and created new education and outreach outlets across campus, fostering an energy around democratic engagement and civic learning, with an emphasis on presidential election cycles.

“I think this is an unprecedented election in a lot of ways, and also for many of our students, their first time ever voting,” said Ashley Liegi, assistant director for the Center for Civic Justice and co-chair of PEPCC. “Some of our students are a little bit nervous or anxious to vote for the first time, so it’s our goal to make the process as approachable as possible.”

Liegi shares chair duties with Emily Snyder, director of Student Community Development. Together they lead a 30-member team representing the entire university. “PEPCC’s composition was carefully curated in order to support the execution of an ambitious strategic plan for the 2024 election season,” said Liegi.

“The Presidential Election Planning and Coordination Committee has contributed to the development of high-quality, high-impact educational and social experiences to help us meet the needs of our diverse and dynamic campus community,” added Snyder.

PEPCC kicked off its slate of events on September 10 with a watch party for the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, attended by more than 240 students. It was co-hosted by the College Democrats and the College Republicans, as well as the Political Science Society and BridgeUSA’s Stony Brook chapter.

“Our political student organizations are really excited to get involved and are helpful in cross-promoting non-partisan and intentionally bipartisan programming,” said Liegi. “This event was a great way to kick off the election season. All of our students were really engaged. We had members from both political parties present, and a lot of collaborative work went into it.”

Liegi added that both party organizations are willing to work together to get students engaged, registered, and voting. “It’s been a pleasure to work with the presidents of both organizations to really get the message out that we ultimately want our students to be active in the election season regardless of what their political views are.”

“Our priority is to make sure our students are well informed as they prepare to voice their vote across the entirety of their ballot,” said Snyder. “Involving campus partners has been integral to this effort. The colleagues and students involved with PEPCC have contributed valuable multidisciplinary perspectives as well as a comprehensive understanding of who our students are and what will resonate with them as they participate in this important civic milestone.”

PEPCC hosted a campus National Voter Registration Day Drive on September 18 aimed at getting people registered to vote. Attendees had the opportunity to register to vote, check or confirm if their voter registration is active and up-to-date, apply for an absentee ballot to vote, and learn about important deadlines for voter registration including how to vote early.

“I registered to vote about two years ago and I received an email a little bit after that saying there was a mistake I needed to correct,” said Evangeline Tsevis, a junior from Queens majoring in psychology and linguistics. “But I felt a little intimidated going into CCJ office. I heard about this event; it was super easy just coming up to table where everybody was nice & helpful - filled out form again."

PEPCC has also created a Presidential Election Guidebook website which serves as central hub providing all election information needed by students/staff/faculty - variety resources/information available therein."

The COVID pandemic curtailed initial efforts significantly: "A lot resource provision now happening physically used hybrid/virtual formats previously - hence lower engagement," noted Liegi."

The Center Civic Justice open Monday-Friday from 9 am-5 pm assisting voter registration/absentee ballot requests etc.; upcoming opportunities register include:

This year however showing immediate dividends; more than 1k new registrations collected August orientation transfer commuter attendees according Liegi: "Stony Brook's largest incoming class yet thus higher event attendance observed ripple effect leading greater personal participation likely during actual polls vis-a-vis heavy mail-in trend seen back2020".

Liegi clinical social worker grad school stint substance abuse rehabilitation center women illuminated systemic issue victim scenarios often unaddressed policy gaps prompting activism: "Frustration seeing policies impact clients motivated delve macro-level analyses led volunteerism campaign eventually professional realm entry".

Observing increased student engagement fostering positive change motivates Liegi at CCJ striving connect individually unique motivations voting different reasons/candidates thus stressing importance overall participation every individual:"Work here doesn’t happen vacuum teamwork essential facets success encompassing registration/education/mobilization," emphasized Snyder concluding on inclusive resource intention catering diverse campus populace ranging novice voters seasoned academicians alike ensuring impact realization elections implicating everyone striving collectively towards civic stewardship nurturing lifelong democratic participation ethos within educational context."