By: Bailey Thumm ’22, staff writer
August 18 was the historic 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment.
This granted women the right to vote in the United States. Dr. Christopher Dolan, the co-chair of social sciences and professor of politics and global studies, shared his thoughts on the significance this anniversary has to female students on campus.
Dolan is passionate inside and outside of the classroom about informing students about the importance of registering to vote. In POL 110, he discusses the history of the 19th amendment. He urges everyone to vote, but especially women, because of the extreme hardships their ancestors went through to gain the right to vote.
Having said that, La Vie asked Dolan if he believes young women who register to vote nowadays recognize what their ancestors did for them to have that right.
He responded that he does not think they are cognizant of those historical connections about the original women’s suffragist movement. Dolan based his answer on a similar question he asked his current POL 110 class. He suggested that LVC could cover voting history in other non-political courses, but ultimately it needs to be reinforced in high school civic education classes.
“I would hope that people would feel more compelled to vote knowing how over 100 years ago women really took to the streets and demanded the right to vote,” Dolan said. “And had that historical appreciation for prior generations who really put their lives on the line to obtain ratification of the 19th amendment.”
Dolan notes that COVID-19 prevented LVC from continuing with its original plan of honoring this year’s landmark anniversary for the 19th amendment. Dolan emphasized the government’s actions having a direct impact on a citizen’s work and home life. College students should be making their voices heard by voting because future careers are at stake.
La Vie asked Dolan was if there was something LVC could do to promote and empower young women to be more involved in government and vote. He believes LVC needs to do a better job in connecting with women’s political organizations.
“We have tried to develop a relationship with the League of Women Voters, for example,” Dolan said.
Dolan went on to say that resourceful programs like this at LVC could encourage young women on campus, not just Political Science majors, to get involved in government. Young women are going to play a huge role in this upcoming presidential election, so do your civic and moral duty to vote.