Student Civic Engagement Dialogues to Support New Campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2003
Amy Flynn or Joe Wills
530-898-4143
Student Civic Engagement Dialogues to Support New Campaign
Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE) is hosting two dialogues on student civic engagement to support the national campaign, Raise Your Voice: Student Action for Change, at California State University, Chico.
“What is Apathy?,” a dialogue between students, will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 12:30-2 p.m., followed by a “Faculty Dialogue on Student Civic Engagement” from 3-4:30 p.m. in BMU 210.
The student forum will evaluate complaints that students are “disengaged,” “apathetic” and “apolitical” in contrast with the increasing number of student volunteers, which has reached 82 percent, according to the Raise Your Voice website.
The faculty discussion will inform CSU, Chico faculty of student perspectives around the nation and what role higher education plays in preparing students for lifelong civic engagement.
The dialogues are sponsored by CAVE and the Office of the Provost. Dennis Rothermel, vice provost for academic affairs and dean of undergraduate education, played a significant role in arranging the event. RSVPs for each session are requested.
Raise Your Voice, Student Action for Change is a national initiative sponsored by Campus Compact, a national coalition to promote the civic purpose of higher education. The Raise Your Voice initiative, introduced in 2002, encourages college students to use their voices to initiate conversations, address issues and create solutions for challenges facing the nation’s democracy.
Both forums will be led by Dick Cone, a nationally recognized leader in civic engagement. Cone has worked with Campus Contact on the Raise Your Voice and initiative since his retirement as director of the Joint Education Project at University of Southern California in 2002.
“We’re really excited that Dr. Cone is coming to Chico,” said Deanna Berg, CAVE director, “He really listens to students and he’s interested in adding a Chico State perspective to the program.”
For more information, contact Berg, or Chris Hyle, Raise Your Voice student advocate, at (530) 898-5817.
###