The GVSU community celebrated the 2024 presidential election on November 5 with a number of events designed to support student voter participation, culminating with an Election Day Celebration in Kirkhof Center.
Organized by Grand Valley’s Office of Student Life, the Election Day Celebration included a performance by the Laker Marching Band, remarks from President Philomena V. Mantella and members of the student community along with voter vans to transport students to local polling locations.
“For most of us students here, it's the first time we get to vote in a presidential election,” said GVSU Student Senate President Quinten Proctor, addressing the gathering of students, faculty and staff in the Kirkhof Center. “As students and young Americans, our futures are the ones that are the most at stake.”
GVSU has continually earned recognition from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for high voter engagement, earning a Gold Seal following the 2022 midterm elections with a 46% student voting rate and Gold Campus recognition following the 2020 presidential election with a 70-79% student voting rate.
“Let's encourage people to be heard, and then we do the tough work of uniting a nation by coming behind whoever gets elected as our president,” Mantella said. “It is my pride and my privilege to lead this organization into the future, but you are our future. So thank you for exercising your right to vote.”
A ‘stroll to the polls’ was led by members of the Xi Nu Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho following remarks from Tania Belcher, chapter member and vice president of operations for the National Pan-Hellenic Council at GVSU.
“Let's not forget that the right to vote is a hard-won privilege,” Belcher said. “Many people throughout history fought and even gave their lives to secure this right. Today, we honor their legacy by exercising the rights they fought to win every time we vote.”
Following the election, the Office of Student Life will host a number of events that allow students to learn more about the democratic process and to relax and take care of their mental health during this season:
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