Listen Here
Monday night Oilers will talk politics
Ashley Summerfield
@ash_summerfield
The Findlay Media Network is set to host a student voter forum in the AMU atrium on Monday, Oct. 3 from 7 to 8 p.m. This is the first student forum that will be open to the public.
A select group of students, two republicans and two democrats, will participate in a discussion on current political issues.
This student-moderated forum will include student-participants from both sides of the political spectrum. Students, faculty, and community members will have the opportunity to observe the forum while it is being filmed by UFTV.
“We do these because we want students to be able to be heard,” said senior journalism and digital media major, Steve Mathie. “It’s a great way for students to get involved in politics right here on campus.”
As the election quickly approaches, Mathie said that the forum plans to cover some of the hotter topics that are going on in this race, especially gun control and immigration.
This is an opportunity for students to become more informed on issues, hear opinions from their peers, and get excited about the political process, according to FMN members.
Mathie said that the voter forum participants will be reminding Oilers to get registered to vote by Oct. 11, which is the deadline in Ohio.
The student forum will be followed by a community voter forum segment held on Oct. 12 and 13, which will be broadcasted live and moderated by local radio host, Douglas Jenkins.
“I look forward to moderating these every year,” said Douglas Jenkins, radio host for WFIN. “I think it’s a great way for local voters to learn more about the candidates who will most directly impact their lives.”
Jenkins, who also advises UF’s radio station (WLFC), moderated the first two community voter forums that UFTV and the Pulse hosted last year.
“I like the forums because it forces participants to think on their toes, and gets them out of their comfort zones a little bit,” said Jenkins.
In an effort to increase political activism on campus, the FMN is also set to host a mock election on Nov. 1. Students will be able to take part in a full voting experience before the general election on Nov. 8.
During FMN’s Mock Election, students, faculty, and staff will be able to vote in the Davis Street building or the AMU from 10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. There will be T-shirts, stickers, and gift-card drawings for participating voters.
