CE Meeting Minutes - 14 November 2024

112th Senate Committee onCivic EngagementDate: 11/14/2024Time: 9:15-10:00amLocation: ZoomPresent: Angela Xiong (Committee Chair), Yonatanne Desta, Ethan Edelstein, Lucy Landry,Prisha AgrawalAbsent (Excused):Absent (Unexcused): Sumire Sumi, Cynthia Hidalgo-SanchezVisitors: Young Song, Stephen RuckusMeeting began at 9:17am.● Introductions● Stephen Ruckus - Provided an overview on the Democracy and Freedom Festival○ Began by widow of Elijah Williams○ Showcases democratic resilience○ Question for the committee: How do you use your skills to think about yourimpact on the wider society?○ Trying to move the event onto campus■ Hopefully in the new SNF angora building near Mason Hall■ Beginning stages of planning, hope to bring a program that speaks to all ofthe student body● What are questions on your mind? What workshops would you love to attend? Whatpeople would you want to hear from?○ Angela Xiong - Wants to know what theme is for this year, and wants to getpeople engaged in the voting process. Wants people to know how to run forelections themselves and be directly politically involved.■ Stephen Ruckus - Not sure yet on the theme, but wants to create spacesfor people to gather to discuss democracy○ Yonatanne Desta - Interactive activities during workshops, rather than lectures.Food, and sessions for debates.○ Lucy Landry - Workshops on how to read and write legislation.○ Angela - Discussion based sessions where people are able to voice their opinions.Sessions on how to write to your representative.○ Ethan - Making policies, legislation, and political/democratic informationdigestible and accessible to a general audience.○ Prisha - Sessions with people who ran or helped run campaigns this last electioncycle. What was it like to do this full time?■ Stephen Ruckus - Going to include a Hopkins Grad to talk about workingwith and living under a candidate that you don’t like. Focused on bringingpeople on the field.● Where do you go to find information on democracy, policy, political news?○ Lucy Landry - A lot of people go to social media for their news, but that’s not themost reliable source.○ Yonatanne Desta - If it doesn’t come to people, they aren’t going to listen. Itneeds to show up on their social media (ex. FYP on TikTok) for them toknow/care.● How do we get students involved on Campus?○ Angela Xiong - Keep speakers relevant to the workshops and sessions that arehosted.■ Young Song - The speakers we have coming are important, but may not beexciting to students. How do we fix this? How do we make students careabout these speakers?● Yonatanne Desta - Keep interesting topics to keep studentsinterested. See if we can get Charlie Kirk to present.● Lucy Landry - Keep networking opportunities open. See if we canget Dean Withers to present.● Angela Xiong - bring people who have been in office. Students areexcited to interact with someone from an elected office.● If you were putting on a festival, which day would be best for fellow students?○ Prisha - Saturday or Sunday, 11am-4pm.○ Angela Xiong - Weekends are best. Most students have classes everyday of theweek, including Fridays.● Stephen Ruckus - Would love to keep you involved. Want to move on to the next phase.○ Angela Xiong - Let’s push this out to the student body, especially with SGA. Keepus updated and help usMeeting ended at 9:53am.