MEADVILLE, Pa. — Sept. 30, 2002 —

Students and Director Daniel M. Shea, at Allegheny College’s new Center for Political Participation, are coordinating efforts to reawaken political spirit in America.

The trend is as startling as it is steep.

Thirty years ago, when 18 year-olds were given the right to vote, about one-half did so. In the last presidential election, this figure dropped to 35 percent, according to Allegheny College Political Science Professor Daniel M. Shea. During this period, the number of Americans who followed political news declined by 40 percent. And in the last congressional election, only 19 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds made it to the polls.

“Many assume that younger Americans are apathetic and self-centered. It’s not true. They give their time, energy and money to their schools, community, and nation. Somehow, this commitment hasn’t extended to politics,” Shea says. “Young people may be engaged civically, but not politically. Many no longer seem to understand the potential of politics.”

Allegheny College has decided to do something about the problem, something rather unique.

In a formal ceremony in October, Allegheny College will officially open the Center for Political Participation to promote and study political engagement.

“Allegheny College is proud of its success in creating a learning environment that encourages students to do volunteer service in our local community and beyond. But the Center for Political Participation takes the idea of community engagement an important step further—encouraging not only service, but also understanding and involvement that will strengthen this nation’s democracy. Our freedoms depend fundamentally upon citizens who are knowledgeable about and actively engaged in electoral politics at every level,” Allegheny College President Richard Cook says.

This innovative, nonpartisan facility is dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation for the vital link between an engaged, active citizenry and democracy. The Center will seek new strategies and mechanisms for promoting political participation among all citizens, with a particular focus on young Americans.Through the Center, Allegheny students will have opportunities to work closely with faculty members, research independently, or attend political science conferences. They will also be able to participate in outreach internships with candidates and political organizations at the local, state, and national levels. Students will develop the Center’s newsletter, web site, and special community programs. New courses being developed in collaboration with other academic departments will incorporate interdisciplinary approaches to encourage political participation.

But, the Center of Political Participation will do much more than help Allegheny students become more involved in politics. It will reach out directly to academic groups and community members.

For example, plans call for sponsoring a biennial assessment of political participation. In addition, the Center for Political Participation will offer advanced placement certification programs and in-service training for high school teachers, meeting a pressing need in Pennsylvania. Finally, area community members will be able to attend a wide variety of unique programs through the Center.

“We are especially interested in changing the perception of government and politics among young Americans, so we plan to integrate our activities with high school civics programs, holding events like mock party conventions,” Shea says. “The Center for Political Participation will offer students, scholars, and citizens, real-world, collaborative projects that help build better and stronger communities.”

Nationwide, a number of colleges have recently undertaken initiatives to promote civic life. The focus of Allegheny’s Center is specifically on reawakening the political spirit in America. “We want to take a bold move—to celebrate politics,” says Shea.

The public opening of the Center for Political Participation will be part of the Allegheny’s Celebration of the Liberal Arts Weekend, Oct. 17-20, and is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18, 2002, at 9:00 a.m. in Brooks Hall, on the campus of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. To further mark the festivities that day, at 10:00 a.m. in Ford Memorial Chapel, noted Allegheny alumni, John Aldrich ’69, professor of political science at Duke University, and Morris Fiorina ’68, professor of political science at Stanford University, will provide a presentation titled, “Why Bother? Political Participation and Democracy in America.”

For more information about the Center of Political Participation, call (814) 332-3344.

Downloadable photos:
Students at Center for Political Participation (187 K)
Daniel M. Shea, Center for Poltical Participation Director (132 K)
Allegheny College Brooks Hall, home of Center for Political Participation (273 K)
Daniel M. Shea, at open door of Center for Political Participation (259 K)

 

Sidebar Facts

• Since the 1950s, the number of Americans participating in local party politics has decreased by more than 50 percent.
• In 1972, when 18-year-olds were first granted the right to vote, 50 percent turned out at the polls; during the last two presidential elections, that turnout dropped to less than 35 percent.
• Since the 1970s, the number of Americans who say that they follow what is going on in government and politics “most of the time” has shrunk by nearly 40 percent.
• From 1980 to 2000, the number of viewers watching televised presidential election debates shrunk by about 50 percent, even though America’s voting-age population grew by 10 percent.
• In the 1998 congressional election only 19 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds made it to the polls.
• The 2000 election—which boasted unprecedented get-out-the-vote drives and surpassed all previous expenditure records by candidates—produced a voter turnout of a little over 50 percent.
• A study conducted after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, found younger citizens slightly more trustful of government and political leaders, yet voter registration is actually down compared to previous years. A full 49 percent of 15- to 25-year-olds say voting is of little importance or not at all important to them. The same study found that 50 percent of this group believes their efforts cannot make any difference in government and politics.

  Sources: The American National Election Study Cumulative Data File, 1952–2000; the Roper Social and Political Trend Surveys; and the Center for Democracy and Citizenship.
  

Editor’s Note:
A media kit about the Center for Political Participation at Allegheny College, and the formal dedication ceremony, is available. Please call the Office of Public Affairs, (814) 332-6755 to request your kit.