Campus offers voter registration

A need for on campus voter registration at Missouri Southern may have been long time coming.

In the Student Services office, room 211 on the second floor of Billingsly Student Center, a student living in Missouri now can register to vote until Oct. 6 for the upcoming presidential election.

It is now mentioned in the Student Handbook as well.

Christy Phillips, secretary to the dean of students, can assist students with voter registration.

“[The] advantages are for a student who doesn’t know where to go and it’s more convenient than the courthouse or DMV,” Phillips said.

“Since sending out an email, we have received quite a few people come.”

Students were also registered at Fall Forward week.

All Freshman Orientation classes were told they

can register as well.

Many students weren’t aware there was a place at Southern to register to vote.

“I didn’t know about it, said Allan Smith, freshman speech and theatre major. “I’m hardly ever on campus.”

He said it was a good thing for more people to vote because he thought it was the way the country should be.

Other students agreed.

“No I didn’t know about voter registration on campus,” said Stacy Orr, junior elementary education major. “I’m a registered voter. It’s more convenient for freshmen who are new to the area and don’t know where to go.”

“I did know about voter registration on campus and I’m a registered voter,” said Julie Bakker, freshman undecided major. “I think it’s a good idea for those who want to vote in Missouri.”

Some who were not of age to vote weren’t aware of on campus voter registration.

“I’m not old enough to vote, said Juli Kidd, freshman undecided major. “I didn’t know about it. I tune stuff out about voting when it comes on. I’m from Arkansas and would rather vote in my hometown.”

Others disagreed.

“I didn’t know where it was but I had heard about it,” said Richard Warden, freshman political science major. “[Registering on campus] saves time from running to the courthouse or DMV”

The consensus was mixed.

“If you won’t take the time to go to the courthouse, there are so many different opportunities too,” said Karen Millis, freshman political science major. “There’s no reason not to.”