Local district candidates will visit Ferris State University on Monday, Oct. 27 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the Business Building, Room 111 and participate in a town hall meeting.
This free event is sponsored by Ferris’ Political Engagement Project.
“Many of our students are either not engaged in the American political process at all or have negative perceptions of it,” said Sandy Alspach, professor of Communication. “The Political Engagement Project encourages these young voters to get engaged and to see the way in which their opinions can matter in our governmental decision-making by voting for candidates who support those opinions or positions.”
The town hall event, sponsored by PEP, features candidate Fred Sprague (D-Mount Pleasant) for Michigan State Senate, 33rd district, and incumbent Phil Potvin (R-Cadillac) and candidate John Ruggles (D-Remus) for the Michigan House of Representatives, 102nd District. Ferris Student Government President Andrew Kalinowski and Torch student newspaper editor-in-chief Harrison Watt have solicited questions from Ferris' student body and will direct the questions toward the candidates. Also, recently confirmed to participate will be Jim Crees, editor-in-chief of the Pioneer newspaper of Big Rapids.
“Students will get to see candidates as flesh-and-blood human beings who have chosen to make a difference by serving their communities in the pressure cooker of the Michigan Legislature,” said Alspach, who is serving as the town hall meeting moderator.
After the town hall meeting, a reception will be held to provide an opportunity to continue conversations with candidates Ruggles and Sprague. Potvin has an engagement and will have to leave prior to the reception. All students are invited to stay for the reception.
Ferris is one of eight institutions in the U.S. selected to participate in Phase II of the Political Engagement Project. The project is focused on the development of both pedagogy and research that is focused on increasing political awareness and involvement among undergraduate students. For more information about PEP, visit here.