October 23, 2008
For Immediate Release
For an Interview:
Jeffrey Nelsen
(801) 226-9056
Even as excitement mounts over this year’s elections, some may wonder if their seemingly small part in the democratic process can make a difference. Through Utah Democracy Week, Utah Valley University aims to help the citizens of Utah County catch the spirit of democracy and realize the importance of their participation in it.
As part of the Utah Democracy Project, the inaugural Utah Democracy Week features a variety of ways for the public to become better informed and more involved. The nonpartisan initiative will include public readings, a public forum, a "Democracy Summit" and a door-to-door nonpartisan educational campaign. Each arm of the initiative is designed with the goal of reconnecting the people with their government.
"We want to bring together public officers and citizens to talk about how to make democracy work as it should," said Jeffrey Nielsen, UVU adjunct professor and organizer of the Democracy House Project, which is an affiliate of the Utah Democracy Project. "There’s been plenty of excitement about the elections, but sometimes there’s a disconnect. People may wonder, ‘What can I do to make a difference?’"
To address that question, Utah Democracy Week will include discussions on political theory as well as practical applications for today. On Oct. 27-29, the public will gather at Utah County libraries for readings from the Declaration of Independence, Preamble to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, followed by a discussion moderated by UVU students. On Oct. 30, a public forum titled "Citizen Involvement vs. Apathy: Reclaiming the Public Role in Democracy" will be hosted in the Timpanogos Room at UVU’s new library.
On Nov. 1, the Saturday prior to the Nov. 4 elections, volunteers will go door to door in Provo and Orem neighborhoods sharing basic, nonpartisan voter education information. Finally, elected officials and ordinary citizens will discuss how the public can reconnect with the government during a Democracy Summit held at UVU’s Timpanogos Room, Nov. 3-7.
About Utah Democracy Week
In its first year, Utah Democracy Week is a series of events designed to educate and motivate citizens regarding their roles in the democratic process. The weeklong nonpartisan campaign, held in connection with UVU’s Center for the Study of Ethics, is part of a three-year, federally funded initiative called the Utah Democracy Project. For more information, or for a more detailed schedule of event times and locations, click on the "Utah Democracy Project" link at UVU.edu/ethics.
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College Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807
Written by:
Brad Plothow
(801) 863-7149