Ever find yourself confused about the big issues in the 2024 election, such as election integrity, affordable housing, crime policy, climate change and more? Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Ask a Professor: Election 2024 on-campus pop-up event series has been designed to encourage students to become engaged, get informed and vote.
Students and younger people don’t always turn out to vote as much as older demographics do, said Robert Preuhs, Ph.D., MSU Denver Political Science Department chair and one of the professors fielding students’ questions. In the most recent midterm elections, only 30% of adults under 30 voted, about half the rate of those over 45, according to a 2023 report by Brookings.
“People are engaged but maybe not as engaged in the actual election process,” Preuhs said. “Part of what we want to do is tie those things together.”
He hopes students concerned about polarization or lack of representation will see the power in their vote. “If you don’t (vote),” he said, “then it’s folks that you may disagree with that will make those decisions (that affect your life).”
The events draw on faculty experts from over 10 programs, spanning three colleges, and are informal, with no agenda or lecture. The format fosters casual conversations that allow students to come away with a sense that you can talk about politics and policy without a high degree of conflict, Preuhs said. He hopes they offer students of all backgrounds and courses of study a way to normalize civil discourse on campus.
They are held outdoors, with complimentary Red Bull energy drinks, at the intersection of Larimer Street and 10th Street Plaza between the Emmanuel Art Gallery and the Auraria Library. MSU Denver senior Flynn Confit, a Poli Sci major, attended the initial event.
“Stoked they are doing this,” Confit said. “There’s a lot of fields where I can make money but not as many where I can make a difference,” such as political science.
“I’m not very politically active and am generally cautious about how I express my political beliefs unless I’m in a safe space,” said student H.T., who wanted to share only their initials. “Having these professors come out and create a safe, neutral, inviting space is a great idea, and I was glad to be able to get some questions answered.”
“Every little bit helps to inform students,” said Julian Jones, a junior majoring in Political Science. “We were talking about Middle Eastern wars and if there would be a regional conflict that would go beyond Gaza. Being able to talk with (faculty members) on these complex topics helps me feel more informed and prepared. I don’t think I really had perspective on some of these things until now.”
So far, Preuhs said, the events have been a lot of fun. “Hopefully, students are taking away a sense that politics doesn’t have to always be contentious, frustrating and difficult,” he said.
The Ask a Professor series runs until Oct. 30.
Ask a Professor dates and topics
Oct. 14 – Crime and Crime Policy – Jennifer Cheek, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Oct. 22 – Water and the West – Matt Makley, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of History.
Oct. 30 – Politics and Elections Redux, Robert Preuhs, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Political Science.