September 27, 2004 Dear UD Students: If you only do one thing outside the classroom this fall — VOTE! As you continue your academic career at the University of Dayton you will be encouraged to participate actively and knowledgeably in the democratic process. Your first opportunity to act this academic year is in the upcoming presidential election. The election has been drawing great public interest, especially in Ohio. If the national election is as close as some pollsters claim it will be in November, each vote becomes extremely important. Think about it this way, if the entire student population at the University of Dayton decided to vote you could potentially sway the presidential election. One measure of the strength of a democracy is the participation of its younger citizens. In the 2000 presidential election, about 60 percent of the 18-25 year olds registered, but only 42 percent voted. When asked why they don’t vote, many college students say they feel their votes do not make a difference. I would argue that every vote matters. Let me share with you some examples. Earlier this year, a game of chance determined the winner of a county commission seat in New Mexico after two candidates tied. A coin flip decided a three-way tie in a June primary runoff in Alabama. Woodrow Wilson was elected president in 1916 by carrying one state by less than one vote per precinct. John Kennedy won the presidency in 1960 by one vote per precinct in Illinois. One vote brought Texas into the Union in 1845. I encourage you to take this opportunity to register, if you have not done so. I also encourage you to vote. It is your right, guaranteed by the 19th Amendment, which was ratified in 1920. At the University of Dayton, we greatly value civic engagement and encourage our students to participate as fully as possible in the democratic process at election time and throughout the year. I encourage you to do your part this year and participate in the democratic process that keeps our country strong by informing yourselves on the candidates and the issues, and by registering, voting and encouraging others to vote. The deadline to register to vote in the November 2 elections is Monday, October 4. I would urge you to become well-prepared to vote by researching candidates and issues. There are many resources available to you through your state and local boards of elections. From a Catholic perspective, I invite you to visit the United States Conference on Catholic Bishops’ website, “Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility,” where you may learn more about the candidates and the issues which will have an impact on shaping our nation’s political landscape. This website, http://www.nccbuscc.org/faithfulcitizenship/index.htm, contains a variety of resources. In addition, you might wish to review Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan, non-profit, independent and objective website that contains background and information about candidates and issues in all states. A list of frequently asked questions also is available at this site. You can access Project Vote Smart by visiting http://www.vote-smart.org. The site also helps you to understand the eligibility requirements for voting, voter registration options and the process for casting your vote at the polls or by absentee ballot. There are a number of registration and voter awareness initiatives underway on campus. From voter registration drives to a voter awareness festival, there are many ways for you to become knowledgeable and involved. Voting is a great privilege and an opportunity to fulfill one of your responsibilities as a citizen. So, let your voice be heard — VOTE! Sincerely, F Daniel J. Curran, Ph.D. President