Office of Civic Engagement

Director’s Message for Spring 2021

From the Desk of OCE Director Anita A. Ruf-Young

While COVID-19 has altered how the Office of Civic Engagement (OCE) can connect and engage CSU students and the greater Cleveland community, the OCE remains committed to continuing our Office’s growth, impact, and success on campus and in the communities that surround CSU during this period of hybrid student engagement. As the spring 2021 semester progresses, I encourage every member of the CSU campus community to remain involved in their communities and in the civic process. 

Our Office believes that encouraging active citizen engagement on our campus is something that should be fostered and encouraged each and every year. CSU is in the heart of Cleveland and has used the motto of, “The City is Our Campus”. CSU has a large physical footprint in Cleveland and is a stakeholder in the local success of the city and its surrounding communities. 

For example, it is common for local election years to receive far less attention and participation than Presidential Elections. We often see a flurry of organizing and civic participation during Presidential Election years, yet there is a noticeable drop off during local election years. According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, the 2020 Presidential Election in Ohio saw a voter turnout rate of over 73%. Compare that to 2017, the last local election year following a Presidential Election in Ohio, statewide wide voter turnout was only 30%. This noticeable participation drop in local elections in our state has inspired our Office to focus on educating our students about the importance and impact of local politics and elections.

Consider this, local leaders have tremendous influence over our day to day lives which we have most noticeably seen during COVID-19. Mask mandates, stay at home orders, and curfews are all policies implemented by state and local officials. Cuyahoga County, with its population of 1.2 million people, has a larger population than eight U.S. states. Local leaders in Cuyahoga County have a direct impact on the lives of all 1.2 million residents through city councilors, school boards, mayors, and county councilors. Simply put, local elections matter, and it is our civic responsibility to educate our CSU campus community about local elections.

We cannot forget that as the pandemic continues, it is our civic responsibility to look out for our friends, neighbors, and communities. The OCE encourages all members of our campus community to find a way to get involved and give back to their communities. Whether that be through the OCE’s own Viking Corps and America Reads programs, or through a local nonprofit organization including The City Mission of Cleveland, The Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Providence House, The Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland, or Friends of City Dogs Cleveland. 

On behalf of the OCE, I wish our entire CSU campus community a safe, healthy, and productive spring semester. If you would like to learn more about the programs and services the OCE offers CSU’s campus, I encourage you to explore our website, or contact us at vikesvote@csuohio.edu.  

See our archive of previous posts.