On October 7, as students walked to their classes, they were met with Powered by People volunteers who were tabling outside of Hubbard Hall. They offered students donuts in exchange to register to vote before the deadline. Across the fountain, a crowd of students gathered to meet Beto O’Rourke, a former state representative. O’Rourke made a surprise appearance on Texas Woman’s University campus to encourage student participation in the upcoming election.
O’Rourke, a state representative for the TX 16th district between 2013-2019, became a nationally known Texas politician. After running in the presidential campaign in 2020, he continues to host a variety of Democratic political events. He founded a political action committee in 2019, ‘Powered by People’ which focuses on registering TX citizens. He made appearances across college campuses in University of Texas Austin, UT San Antonio, and University of North Texas.
“There is a reason we are here at Texas Woman’s University on the last day of voter registration, and that is because of the spirit in the student body,” stated O’Rourke. “We’ve been traveling the state of Texas on our ‘Ready to Vote’ tour, getting folks registered all over Texas.”
Students created an extensive line as they waited to meet the well-known O’Rourke and confirm their voting registration. “I am registered to vote,” stated Maryam Nayef, a pre-nursing major. “I actually just turned in my [registration form] yesterday. I think it’s really important to vote, no matter your opinion, it’s important to express the right we have to vote.
As the deadline to vote looms closer, the 2024 presidential election has become a topic of national importance. According to AP, “62% of adults say democracy in the U.S. could be at risk depending on who wins.” Young voters, particularly on college campuses, are similarly sparking national interest in the rise of political participation. “Much attention over the past year has been focused on the attitudes of the subgroup known as Generation Z- the more than forty million young people, including eight million newly eligible voters, who were born roughly between 1995 and 2006,” states Columbia Magazine.
October 7th holds significance, as it is the one year anniversary of the Israel/ Palestine conflict. Whilst no protests yet occurred at TWU, a multitude of students walked out of their classes at UNT.
“The UNT Palestinian Solidarity Committee staged a walkeout and pro-Palestinian freedom demonstration on the library mall. [The Committee] expressed enduring rage and resistance on Monday, leading chants that criticized Zionism, U.S. military interventionism and aid to Israel, but also chanting phrases that celebrated Judaism, resistance to oppression and Palestinian freedom,” reports the Denton Record Chronicle.
O’Rourke, as many U.S. politicians, has spoken in favor of Israel with slight criticism of their tactics. “It’s been a year of almost unspeakable tragedy. The tragedy that begat this year of horrors when Hamas attacked Israel, innocent civilians, killing, raping, and kidnapping. It continued in Israel’s bombing at times indiscriminately of Gaza and now Lebanon,” stated O’Rourke. “My hope is that marking this anniversary is an opportunity for us to focus and reflect on the need for peace, ceasefire, for return of the hostages and for a political solution that will prevent this from ever happening again.”
Despite an increase in criticisms from younger Americans of the U.S.’s alliance with Israel, both the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have expressed their loyalty to Israel. Kamala Harris, although expressing concern for the methods of attack by Israel, expressed support for Israel as an allied state to the U.S. O’Rourke endorses Harris-Walz for the upcoming presidential campaign.
“My hope, belief and faith are all with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz,” stated O’Rourke. “I think they hold out the best hope for this country using its extraordinary power and leverage to bring about that ceasefire, the return of hostages, and the peace that we all desire.”
As the 2024 presidential election is the disputed debate of the year, the votes of America will determine the outcome. The choice of either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump rests on the decisions of American voters. In TX, early voting is between October 21st through November 1st. Find a polling site here. Request a mail-in ballot here. Find other elections you are eligible to vote for in TX here. The last day to vote for a presidential candidate is November 5th.
Annalise Soto-serrano can be reached via email @asotoserrano@twu.edu
Be First to Comment