Resolution Supporting Voter Registration Campaign

Resolution Supporting Voter Registration Campaign

September 19 - October 6, 2005, at San Francisco State University

WHEREAS Among the many forms of government with which human beings have

experimented, democracy remains the best of the alternatives that have developed over time; and

WHEREAS An open society gains in strength of spirit from the widespread participation in civic matter of those eligible to participate, and

WHEREAS The most fundamental form of that participation is voting in national,

state, and local elections, and

WHEREAS SFSU has committed itself to lively and widespread efforts to encourage voter registration and voter education; and

WHEREAS The upcoming special election of 2005 asks the citizens of the state to make decisions on a number of issues that could have direct and indirect effects on the state and its public agencies for years to come; and

WHEREAS The turnout of voters in special elections is historically low; and

WHEREAS The California Faculty Association will be conducting its 8^th non-partisan voter registration campaign at SFSU from September 19, 2005 through October 6, 2005 (Mondays through Thursdays, 10-2); and

WHEREAS President Robert A. Corrigan and Provost John Gemello have consistently

encouraged faculty to participate in this non-partisan civic activity; and

WHEREAS By engaging in voter registration activities, faculty can model their

commitment to the society beyond the University that we also encourage in community service learning courses, and

WHEREAS Many thousands of SFSU students, faculty, and staff have registered or re-

registered during such campaigns in prior years, therefore be it

RESOLVED That the SFSU Academic Senate strongly endorse the non-partisan voter registration campaign of fall 2005, and be it further

RESOLVED That the SFSU Academic Senate publicize the dates, times, and places of the voter registration campaign, and urge all faculty to do the same in their classes, and be it further

RESOLVED That the SFSU Academic Senate invite all faculty members to participate

in whatever way is most appropriate for them, whether by staffing a voter-registration table or by taking time to publicize to their students the importance of making informed choices in the electoral process.