Saint Michael’s voter awareness series preps campus community for Election Day

As Election Day neared, Saint Michael’s College brimmed with initiatives across campus aimed at enhancing voter awareness and engagement.

From the Bergeron Wellness Center to the Political Science Department, students had the opportunity to participate in an array of events intended to educate, comfort, and inspire them during this potentially overwhelming time.

Through the involvement of countless departments and organizations such as Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts (MOVE); the Center for Diversity, Empowerment, and Community (DEC); the Student Government Association (SGA); Bergeron Wellness Center; and the Political Science and International Relations Department, Saint Michael’s fosters an inclusive environment where students can engage with a variety of viewpoints. This approach not only educates students about the issues at hand, but also provides a space where they can feel safe to share their thoughts and opinions, or their fears and anxieties.

Professors Jerry Swope of the Digital Media and Communications Department, David Boynton of the Psychology Department, and Stephon Boatwright of the Political Science and International Relations Department serve on a panel in October 2024 about the media’s impact in presidential elections. (Photo by Abbey Gyurko ’27)

The political science perspective

According to Stephon Boatwright, a professor of political science and international relations for Saint Michael’s with expertise in American politics, the college experience is vital to shaping individuals’ political perspectives and engagement.

“Because the U.S. conducts elections through a decentralized, state-based system of rules, it’s essentially like having 51 different elections,” he said. “Every state, along with Washington, D.C., has its own unique voting rules and regulations. With a student body coming from various locations across the country, clarification is necessary.”

Saint Michael’s College Professor Stephon Boatwright

To address the challenges of the state-based political system, Boatwright emphasized the importance of providing students with specific information about the political landscape in both Vermont and their home states. This, he said, is essential for maximizing student engagement in the election.

As part of a campus-wide effort to increase voter awareness, the Political Science Department has hosted numerous speakers since September, including Vermont State Representative Kurt Wright and Vermont State Senator Tanya Vyhovsky.

Boatwright conducted interviews with the visiting speakers, and provided both students and faculty with the opportunity to engage with them directly. These close, personal interactions sparked a deeper interest in politics, and more specifically in the 2024 election, Boatwright said.

“[The speakers’] personal stories about the inner workings of governance were a great way to humanize elected representatives, who can seem quite inaccessible unless there are opportunities to engage with them one-on-one,” Boatwright said.

This semester, the Political Science Department also offered a course called Parties, Elections, and Political Participation. Within the course, students have explored the Harris–Trump debate, major media developments, and the candidates’ ongoing efforts to influence the political narrative before the election. The course allows students the opportunity to take a deep dive into the American electoral system during this historic election year.

After the election on November 5, the Political Science Department will host additional, post-election sessions to help students process the aftermath of this important moment in our nation’s history.

Vermont State Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, who represents Chittenden County, speaks to students, faculty and staff during an event moderated by Political Science Professor Stephon Boatwright in September 2024. (Photo by Sophie Burt ’26)

Living room conversations

This year, Saint Michael’s hosted two “Living Room Conversations”—small, informal talks offering the College community an opportunity to come together and share thoughts, opinions, and experiences regarding the election. Living Room Conversations are a style of structured dialogue that DEC, Be Well, MOVE, and the Political Science Department adapted for the needs they saw on campus.

Lara Scott, Director of MOVE

In September, DEC and Be Well collaborated to host a Living Room Conversation titled “Managing Anxiety Through the Voting Season.” Then, in October, MOVE and the Political Science Department hosted another, “Becoming an Informed Voter.”

Lara Scott, director of MOVE, attended the “Becoming an Informed Voter” event and expressed her immense satisfaction with the outcome.

“Two faculty shared their own approaches to informing themselves about candidates, platforms, and values, and students asked insightful questions and shared their own experiences and wonderings,” Scott said.

According to Scott, colleagues from MOVE and the Department of Political Science and International Relations offered additional perspectives and questions for the group. She said she felt most attendees took away valuable information from the conversation.

“I hope [the event] reduced anxiety, informed students’ choices for November, and made them more confident when casting their ballots,” Boatwright said.

Vermont Lt. Governor David Zuckerman speaks to Saint Michael’s students, faculty and staff during an event moderated by Political Science Professor Stephon Boatwright. (Photo by Elizabeth Murray)

Speakers on campus and the moral discussion

In addition to the speakers invited to campus by Boatwright, Rev. David Theroux, SSE ’70 invited two distinguished speakers to address the moral considerations for this election.

In September, the College hosted Rev. Thomas Massaro, SJ, an expert in moral theology, to discuss the role that the Catholic Church plays in informing voters. He discussed the American Catholic bishops’ call to vote responsibly, emphasizing that the Church does not endorse specific candidates. Instead, it encourages citizens to assess which candidate will best serve the common good, aligning with the principles of social justice as outlined by the Church.

Rev. Thomas Massaro gives a talk on Catholicism and voting at Saint Michael’s College on Sept. 24, 2024. (Photo by Niyo Vainqueur ’28)

Then, in October, Saint Michael’s welcomed Dr. Julia Maskivker, a professor of political science at Rollins College whose research delves into the moral responsibilities of voting. In her talk, she explored voting as a duty, drawing parallels to the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan.

According to Fr. Theroux, both Fr. Massaro and Maskivker’s insights helped students understand that voting is more than a right—it’s an obligation.

Rollins College Political Science Professor Julia Maskivker speaks to a crowd at Saint Michael’s College on Oct. 14, 2024, about the duty to vote. (Photo by Abbey Gyurko ’27)

Through these talks, students were encouraged not only to learn from respected voices in the field, but also to engage in meaningful conversations about their roles as voters, Fr. Theroux said.

“The principles of social justice as taught by the Catholic Church represent a long tradition of thinking about the issues of social justice and how all of us as responsible persons act for the common good of all and to bring about a better world for the sake of all people,” he said.

Ultimately, it is the individual voter’s responsibility to select the candidate that will best represent these principles and truly act on behalf of the American people, Fr. Theroux said.