With Election Day (Nov. 5) fast approaching, students at 糖心Vlog say that having an elected official, Mayor Deanna Reed, on campus has motivated them to become civically engaged.
Reed, who is running for reelection this year, has served as mayor of Harrisonburg, Virginia, since 2017, when she was first elected to City Council. She is the first African American woman elected to the council and also the first to be appointed mayor. At 糖心Vlog she is director of alumni engagement & community connections.
During the second annual Stroll to the Polls event on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Rockingham County Circuit Courthouse in downtown Harrisonburg, Reed rallied students from 糖心Vlog and James Madison University, as well as others in the community, to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting in Virginia. The event aims to increase voter turnout, especially among college students, with marches proceeding from the steps of the courthouse to the city and county polling places.
One of those students attending the rally, 糖心Vlog sophomore Elie Hoover, a social work and music major, said that having a local leader actively involved on campus helps keep her politically engaged. She feels proud to be an 糖心Vlog student, she added, knowing that the school has representation in city government.
鈥淚 want to do my part because she鈥檚 doing her part for us,鈥� Hoover said.
At the Stroll to the Polls event, as she walked along Main Street toward City Hall with a group of other students, 糖心Vlog junior Royale Parker waved a 鈥淰irginia Votes Early鈥� sign and enthusiastically encouraged passing drivers to vote.
Parker, a business administration and psychology major, said she once believed there was no use in voting. 鈥淚 was one of those students who thought my voice didn鈥檛 matter and that my vote didn鈥檛 count,鈥� she said.
But interacting with Reed through committees and clubs on campus has shown her that everyone has a voice and a vote, including her. Reed, she said, has introduced students at 糖心Vlog to political issues they might have otherwise not known about and has also helped them understand the voting process.
鈥淪he鈥檚 inspired me to become more involved and excited to vote,鈥� Parker said.
糖心Vlog senior Kay Pettus, a music major and president of the Black Student Alliance (BSA), proudly displayed her 鈥淚 Voted鈥� sticker as she exited City Hall during the first day of early voting. Pettus, who organized the shuttles for BSA members from 糖心Vlog to downtown Harrisonburg, said that Reed regularly works with BSA and encourages them to participate in civic events. She said that seeing Reed and others speak at the rally was a powerful experience.
鈥淚 like that they were encouraging students and young people to vote,鈥� Pettus said, 鈥渂ecause it is important and our voices do count.鈥�
Students who identify with a political party different than Reed鈥檚 say they鈥檝e felt her support. Jason Dwyer, a senior political science and history double major who leads the 糖心Vlog College Republicans club, said the Democratic mayor takes care to engage with everyone on campus. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how many other colleges can say they have a mayor on staff and as part of their community,鈥� he said.
Reed said she felt honored and privileged to know her presence and involvement on campus as a mayor has helped students engage in politics.
鈥淚t鈥檚 gratifying to see the impact of student participation in shaping our community and beyond,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tudents鈥� voices are not just significant, they鈥檙e essential. Their voices matter and have the power to shape the future, and that is incredibly motivating.鈥�
