California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif., Dec. 15, 2009 – CSU Channel Islands (CI) recently was recognized with an honorable mention in the 2008 Campus Votes Challenge. The Challenge, administered by the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University, was originated to encourage voting participation in the 2008 presidential election by college and university students nationwide. More than forty undergraduate colleges and universities participated.

Tisch College’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) released figures indicating that the national average for voter turnout among the nation’s 18-24 year old college students was 59.7 percent. The seven winners of the 2008 Campus Votes Challenge had a turnout of over 70 percent. The 15 institutions receiving honorable mention, including CI, had a turnout of over 60 percent.

Tufts University President Lawrence S. Bacow stated that, “The Voter Challenge offered our institutions an opportunity to demonstrate the positive impact of our efforts on student voting.”

Maureen Curley, President of Campus Compact, a non-profit coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education, mentioned that, “It is widely recognized that young people influenced the 2008 election by voting in large numbers…marking a heartening upsurge in the civic education mission of higher education.”

At CSU Channel Islands, the Votes Challenge was conducted primarily by the student government and the voting rates were calculated with assistance from CI students. Lauren Pollack, currently a senior at CI and the Vice President of Student Government, was a senator last year and participated in the Challenge. She explained that the clear goal of the Challenge was to encourage students to vote. “Last year was more about showing students that they can make a difference, especially in these stressful budget times.” She said that, “We wanted to let students know that just by voting they have a voice and that voice can make a difference.”

For media inquiries contact Joanna Murphy, Assistant Director of Communication & Marketing at 805-437-8915 or joanna.murphy@csuci.edu.

CSU Channel Islands is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

CSUCI Mission Statement
Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.