Austin Community College Wins Bigly in Voting Competition, Because Apparently Democracy Needs a Sponsor

In a shocking turn of events, it turns out that democracy needs a little help from corporate sponsors SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios and Levi's. Who knew? But hey, at least we're getting a free concert out of it, right? 🤷‍♂️

So, Austin Community College (ACC) just won the first-ever Vote Early Day Community College Concert Competition. And on Oct. 24, rising star Jessie Murph will grace ACC students with a free show. Because nothing says "get out the vote" like a good ol' fashioned concert. 🎸

According to the competition organizers, ACC beat out nearly 150 other community colleges because of their stellar nonpartisan democratic engagement action plan. Honestly, we're just impressed they managed to pull off something nonpartisan in today's political climate. Kudos, ACC. 👌

Chris Cervini, ACC's vice chancellor of community and government affairs, said, "It's very easy for people to get disillusioned, to doom scroll and think that they can't make a difference. And so we really are focused on how important not only voting, but like understanding the local issues ... make a big difference in people's lives."

Gasp! Could it be? A government official acknowledging the power of local issues? Be still my beating heart. ❤️

But here's where it gets really wild. ACC has been required by federal law to encourage voter registration. And they've been doing it for years. But suddenly, with the hiring of a new director of public affairs, voter registration and elections, and including more student voices, their efforts have expanded. It's almost as if... listening to students and investing in resources makes a difference? Mind. Blown. 🤯

Clarissa Unger, co-founder and executive director of the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, said the competition was organized to address "equity gaps in the college student voting space."

She added, "We all identified that community colleges in particular were a place that didn't have enough investment, didn't have enough resources, really across the board, but in particular around their nonpartisan student voter engagement efforts."

So let me get this straight. We're investing in free concerts and competitions, but not in actual resources for community colleges to encourage voting? Seems legit. 🤔

Anyway, mark your calendars for Oct. 24, ACC students. Free concert, free food, and a whole lot of democratic engagement. Just remember, folks, this isn't about who you vote for—it's about everyone's voice being heard.

And hey, if it takes a free concert to get you to the polls, then so be it. Rock on, democracy. rocker: