Goats, Candidates, and Civic Engagement Come to WSUV

“I really like goats, I wanted to pet a goat, but I also am really into politics. I think voting is super important, so that’s why I came,” WSUV student Brinna said.

Students at WSUV, such as Brinna, had the chance to meet local candidates, ask questions, and pet goats on Tuesday as ASWSUV hosted its annual civic engagement event.

The “Goats for Votes” event, held Sept. 22 in Firstenburg Student Commons, brought together 10 candidates and community organizations, including the League of Women Voters. Students could speak with candidates and collect candidates’ signatures on a passport before getting the chance to interact with the goats.

Brinna said events like Goats for Votes are important on college campuses because young people may not always recognize the impact of their participation in elections.

“I think a lot of young people don’t really notice the importance of their vote, but it is important,” she said.

Brinna also said she believes that attending the event made her more likely to vote in the upcoming election because it demonstrated that other people cared about participating.

Seeing other students at the event “shows that a lot of people care and you wanna participate in things that people care about,” Brianna said.

Keeley Reid, ASWSUV’s director of Legislative Affairs, said the event was designed to make civic engagement more approachable for students. 

“Politics isn’t always a great subject to talk about,” Reid said. “I kind of want to help people feel less scared to talk about those things, because it is very important, and it does affect everybody.”

Students who attended were encouraged to talk with at least two candidates as part of the event’s passport activity. Reid said ASWSUV has used incentives at past civic engagement events to encourage students to participate, leading the organization to incorporate the opportunity to pet goats into this year’s event.

For Reid, the event ultimately centered on encouraging students to recognize that their participation in elections matters.

“The biggest thing is that their voice matters,” Reid said. “It’s very important to register to vote…just get involved and make your voice heard.”

Several of the candidates at the event said connecting directly with students was one of their main reasons for attending.

Troy McCoy, a candidate for Clark County Council District 5, said he wanted to meet students and encourage younger people to become involved in their communities.

“Whoever you vote for, please vote, please be involved,” McCoy said. He encouraged students to reach out to candidates with questions before making decisions about who to support.

Eileen Quiring O’Brien, a candidate for Clark County Auditor, also said the event gave students an opportunity to ask questions, become more informed about local government, and get involved in their communities. 

“If students knew more about how much life is controlled by policies that are made, whether it’s at the state level, the county level, wherever, they would be more involved,” O’Brien said.  

She said she hoped students would leave the event feeling more informed and interested in the upcoming election.

Monica Stonier, who is running for the Washington State Legislature in the 49th Legislative District, Position 2, said events like Goats for Votes can help students become more familiar with candidates and issues that may affect them.

Stonier said younger voters can sometimes have difficulty finding information about elections and may feel hesitant to vote if they do not feel informed enough.

“Anytime we can make connections like this, when people get a chance to get to know what the issues are going to be in the upcoming session, or just kind of find their elected officials or candidates as somewhat approachable, is helpful,” Stonier said.

Kim Harless, who is running for the Washington State Legislature in the 49th Legislative District, Position 1, also emphasized a similar point as Stonier. Harless said she wants students to know that “politicians are everyday people too and we’re not scary. Come and talk to us and…don’t ever be afraid to reach out.” 

The League of Women Voters also attended the event to provide students with information about voting, including voter registration, updating addresses and finding election information.

Mary Austin-Seymour, a member of the League of Women Voters, said the organization does not often get opportunities to directly reach college-aged voters.

She said the event allowed the organization to speak with students who may not otherwise seek out information about voting.

“This is really unique and wonderful,” Austin-Seymour said. “I’m just thrilled the student government gives us this opportunity.”

Austin-Seymour also said that students should recognize that voting “is their voice. It is their power.”