As college students, many of us are new to voting. And with this year’s election competing with our busy class schedules as well as work hours, it can be pushed to the back of our minds and seem somewhat unimportant.
However, the Women’s Center on campus wanted to get the word out about just how important voting is for students.
On Wednesday, Sept. 12, in the Orndorff Theatre, located in the Ceddia Union Building, the Women’s Center hosted the presentation of a film titled “Iron Jawed Angels.”
The film gave a historical account of women’s suffrage in the U.S., but it did so in a modern, entertaining way.
With actors including Patrick Dempsey, Hilary Swank and Frances O’Connor among others, the film presented comedy, romance, action and drama that illustrated just how difficult and inspiring the struggles were for the women who fought for voting rights.
The plot of the movie covered the years 1912 to 1920 and told the story of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, two young women who took the women’s suffrage movement to extreme measures in order to make a change.
The film brilliantly captured the struggle of their fight.
At a parade, which was formed by the two courageous women in order to protest for their cause, many women were beaten in the streets.
While holding signs outside of the White House, they were arrested unjustly and thrown into jail. While in jail, Paul suffered punishment for her decision to go on a hunger strike. Doctors argued that she was “insane” and treated her with extreme measures that would be considered inhumane today.
The ending of the movie depicted an inspiring scene of former President Woodrow Wilson’s character, played by Bob Gunton, during Wilson’s congressional speech expressing new support for the suffrage movement. This was followed by the moving and motivational scene of the final deciding vote that made the Susan B. Anthony Amendment become law.
On Aug. 26, 1920, women were granted the right to vote. The film gave a moving reminder that the women who fought for this right did not go through these struggles solely for themselves; they did it for all of us.
While this historical movement had a major impact on women, it serves as a reminder to all of us of just how important voting is.
If a few people had the courage to stand up for their right to vote and go through horrible struggles because of it, then it reminds us that we should not take that right for granted.
Prior to the showing of the film, as well as afterward, the Women’s Center aided many students in filling out registration forms to vote.
The staff of the Women’s Center got approximately 25 students registered to vote Wednesday night, which brings the total for this semester up to 400. The center will be accepting registration forms until Oct. 9.
Stephanie Erdice, director of the Women’s Center, reminds students that it is convenient to register at the university because our polling place is located on campus at the SU Foundation building. She also reminds students that registering to vote gives them a voice in local politics.
An announcement was also made that the SU honors program will be holding an election preview for students who would like to learn more about the election or become more informed about each candidate.
The election preview will include two specific events, both of which will be free for the public to attend.
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, they will be hosting a presidential election analysis at the Old Main Chapel at 7 p.m., and on Sept. 25, they will be holding a congressional races preview at the same time and location.
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