Musicians encourage students to vote
Hundreds of students raised their hands and pledged to “rock the vote” Wednesday afternoon at Monroe Park, as they watched musicians the Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow and Jack Johnson.
The Rock the Vote campaign uses music, popular culture and new technologies to inspire young citizens to vote.
Hundreds of students raised their hands and pledged to “rock the vote” Wednesday afternoon at Monroe Park, as they watched musicians the Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow and Jack Johnson.
The Rock the Vote campaign uses music, popular culture and new technologies to inspire young citizens to vote. After registering 2.3 million voters, Rock the Vote is stopping in swing states to ensure young voters make their way to the polls.
Virgina’s Rock the Vote organizer Amanda Eckerson thinks more young voters will show up to the polls this election.
“Young people are 44-million-strong,” Eckerson said. “It’s a huge demographic. If 44 million people don’t show up to the polls, there’s a problem with democracy.”
The rally included a two-song acoustic set by Sheryl Crow and Jack Johnson.
Crow began with the campaign theme-appropriate song “A Change Would Do You Good.” She inserted inspirational messages about the importance of one’s voice in a democratic society during the song.
Crow told the crowd that as a former school teacher and a new mom, the election carried great importance to her.
“I want my son to have a beautiful Earth that we admire and respect because we know that we’re not going to be here forever. Somebody else is going to be footing the bill,” Crow said in reference to the current economic situation and the Iraq war.
The Beastie Boys did not perform, but gave pointers to the audience about what they might deal with on Election Day. Adam “MCA” Yauch told voters to be wary of being told they are not registered to vote when they are on Election Day.
“We want to point out if you show up to vote and wait in this long line and they say you are not registered, you have to find the person in charge and make sure to pursue it,” Yauch said.
Jack Johnson introduced “Times Like These” as a song about God blessing the whole world not just the United States.
“If we take part in the democratic process, we are being part of the global community,” Johnson said.
Adrian Grantz, a theater performance major came to see the Beastie Boys.
“I’m bummed the Beastie Boys didn’t perform. They just talked,” Grantz said.
Grantz was standing six feet from the stage and had difficulty hearing due to poor sound quality.
Rachel Curzon, a pre-nursing major who came to see Jack Johnson, enjoyed the rally.
“It was great. It got everyone pumped up to vote,” Curzon said.
Mass communications major Julia Singer attended the rally because she is involved in the election and is a fan of Jack Johnson and the Beastie Boys. Singer was unsure as to the effect Rock the Vote would have on young voters.
“It depends. Some people listen to people in the media, some don’t,” Singer said. “I’m hoping it ups voter
turnout.”
