University Election Holiday | Graphic by Dylan Collison | The Wright State Guardian
On Jan. 12 the Wright State University (WSU) Student Government Association (SGA) voted on and passed Resolution 21-02, stating that Election Day should be recognized as a university holiday.
Why Election Day
President of SGA Adrian Williams sees the importance of participating in the democratic voting process. Having the chance to guide the future is something he is trying to accomplish as an undergraduate.
“In the spirit of trying to promote civic engagement among the campus community and making students available for things like serving as poll workers and volunteering for ‘get out and vote’ drives, we decided this would be a good initiative to pursue,” Williams said.
Other universities across the nation have similarly ruled in favor of Election Day as a university holiday, and WSU’s SGA noticed this change and knew it was possible for Raiders as well.
Williams only concern on the matter is time.
“The fact that the university’s academic calendars are usually published two to three years in advance is my only concern,” Williams said.
Realistically, Williams believes that Resolution 21-02 will be enacted by the next presidential election.
A change in schedules
If Resolution 21-02 is enacted and Election Day becomes a university holiday at WSU, faculty may have to alter class schedules accordingly.
Associate Professor at WSU Jung-Soo Yi said that changes to schedules may have to occur, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“The democracy of elections could be well celebrated by making it a university holiday,” Yi said.
“I do not have any problems or issues if it is well agreed upon by the educational community. I do not think it will negatively affect classes or students, since academic schedules can be adjusted accordingly,” Yi said.
Students See the Benefits
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. member Jayshuan Gaddis participated in different facets with his chapter throughout the most recent presidential election.
Throughout 2020, Gaddis and the Phi Phi chapter hosted a voter registration drive and pushed voter awareness continuously through social media and campus.
Having the resolution passed would help benefit the work Gaddis and the Phi Phi chapter conduct during Election Day.
“If Election Day were a university holiday, I feel that it would allow room for more students to be civically engaged in the political process. If universities scheduled no classes or at least half a day of classes, then students can take advantage of the opportunity to vote in the elections,” Gaddis said.
For more information on Wright State SGA and Resolutions passed by the body, click here.
