elections

Higher Ed: Taking Skills Learned In The Classroom To The Voting Booth

One reason often cited by non-voters for their lack of participation goes something like this: “my vote doesn’t really count” or “how can my one vote make any difference?” Voter turnout among college-aged students is traditionally low in midterm election years. But this year is shaping up to be different. In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and KUT’s Jennifer Stayton discuss how to sustain that interest even when national politics are not so charged.

Ed believes that getting voting-aged students to the polls is half the battle. The other half? Making sure they are informed voters.

“You just don’t want to have voters going in there and taking out a die and rolling it and then whatever it lands on that’s how you feel on the issue or who you decide to vote for,” says Ed. He hopes that voters will not make their voting decisions only influenced by “sound bites or 160 characters or generic Facebook posts where we don’t even know exactly where they’re actually emanating from.”

Ed believes that student can and should take the “best practices” of learning they have acquired in classrooms over the years and apply that to the act of voting.

“Articulate what are the issues that matter to you, that are important to you,” says Ed. “And then for each one of them, try to explain why. Is it an emotional response? Is it a logical response? Am I responding because I don’t like the other side, or because I like this side?”

Ed believes that student can making voting a practice – part of the way they live their lives – by getting interested and engaged early.

Listen to the full episode to hear more about using skills honed in the classroom to make decisions in the voting booth. The puzzler is taking a break for a little while to make way for some lighter riddles. These first two are pretty easy; see if you can get them right away.

This episode was recorded on Oct. 30, 2018.

Texas Standard: October 16, 2018

Round two getting underway tonight in San Antonio: what to expect in the last debate before early voting between Ted Cruz and Beto O’rourke. Also, the policy of family separations at the border was a bust, but now the Washington Post reports it may be making a comeback. We’ll hear the how and why. And Texas is a leader in wind energy, but is the push for wind turbines about to run out of air? We’ll hear why some are worried. Also, what some have called a declaration of a new cold war. Why you might have missed it and why the Chinese certainly did not. All those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: September 5, 2018

A Texas federal courtroom is once again the stage for a legal challenge that could have enormous, nationwide impact. We’ll explain. Also this week marks a full year since Amazon started the search for a second headquarters. Dallas and Austin are on the shortlist, but what’s next? We’ll check in. And a woman held in slavery makes a new life for herself by posing as a man and signing up to be a soldier. The true story behind a new novel. Plus it’s campaign season and politicians are making claims about their opponents. We’ll fact-check one about holding town hall meetings. And Texans have long been taught to remember the Alamo, but what do we know about the defenders in that battle? We’ll dig in to some demographics. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: August 27, 2018

Nearly a million Texans without representation in the Texas Legislature? Why is the governor refusing to call an election for a soon to open seat?

Amid concerns over sexual misconduct on campus, Texas A&M promises to overhaul how it handles complaints. We’ll take a closer look.

Also, exactly one year after the storm, Houston approves a bond referendum to help it deal with the next Hurricane Harvey- and why much, much more might be needed to fix its reservoirs.

Reversal of an EPA rule designed to push renewable energy. What does it mean for Texas?

And the seasonal superstition seizing many in the Rio Grande Valley. What is the canicula?

Texas Standard: August 10, 2018

Is it possible to prevent another Sutherland Springs? The military sure hopes so, that’s one reason it’s changing the way it reports domestic violence, we’ll have the story. Plus, there’s more political races to keep an eye on than the O’Rourke / Cruz one. But don’t fret, we’ll tell you which. And has the Rio Grande Valley perfected the formula that leads to academic success? Results from the last few years are hinting yes. And all the reasons why Texas is soon to be home to America’s largest cricket stadium, of course it’s a story about changing demographics. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 30, 2018

After the Santa Fe massacre, and a week of roundtables, the Governor comes up with a blueprint to improve safety in Texas public schools, we’ll have the latest. Also, how high is that oft-cited wall between church and state? A new report from the associated press claims we’re witnessing an important moment for religiously conservative attorneys landing positions of power and policy behind the scenes, we’ll hear more. And U.S. politics may get dirty at times, but never as deadly as in Mexico right now. Record number of assassinations of candidates as the nation prepares to pick a president July 1st. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 20, 2018

86 cents of every dollar donated to state-level campaigns in Texas went to Republicans. We’ll do the numbers. And it’s here: early voting is underway for the Texas primaries. We’ll explore the rules behind where you can cast a ballot and why. And a city on the Texas coast is making plans to become the first new cruise ship port-of-call in about half a century. We’ll talk with the mayor leading the effort. Plus, a big U-S company is changing the way they do healthcare and it’s turning some heads. It may surprise you which company it is. And we’ll also hear from the filmmakers behind a new movie about an event that thrust one Texas city into the national spotlight a few decades ago. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 19, 2018

The University of Texas and the Texas Tribune team up to tell us which politicians are ahead on the polls, we’ll have the latest. Also, is OPEC bringing in more members to better control oil prices? We’ll Explore the role of Historically Black Colleges and speak to the film-maker. Plus comfort food has a whole other meaning to families in poverty, we tell you why. And the art of Arturo Torres is putting Garland on the map, we’ll explain. Also, it’s president’s Day! And early voting starts tomorrow, be sure to Wear your red white and blue all week! Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: January 9, 2018

It’s a 12 billion dollar solution that could prevent many more billions of dollars in damage. So why can’t Texas put up a hurricane barrier? We’ll explore. Also, the frontrunners in Mexico’s upcoming presidential election have already emerged. How the many Mexican voters living in Texas could effect the outcome. Plus, Texas is taking steps to re-think and re-design state mental health facilities, we’ll have the details. And the views from outer space are quite literally out of this world. But many astronauts have vision trouble in zero gravity. Texas researchers are on the job. Also a 5 to nil vote shut down a plan proposed by U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry. We’ll take a look at why and what’s next. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: August 16, 2017

The president weighs in on Charlottesville and the pundits weigh in on the president, but where are the voices of Texans? Just ahead, four Texans with 4 different experiences, sound off on the president’s stunning press conference. Has anything changed on the day after? Also a federal court says Texas must redraw two congressional districts, but the political implications could be felt statewide, we’ll explain. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: June 9, 2017

Obstruction of Justice? Vindication for the President? What did Texans hear in yesterday’s testimony on Capitol Hill? We’ll be listening. Also, on the eve of voting in 3 tight mayoral races, low turnout means all three could be decided by a relative handful of ballots. Will your vote make the difference? We’re checking in with reporters across the state. Plus, obscured by the avalanche of news yesterday, what appears to be a breakthrough treatment for all kinds of cancers, we’ll hear about it. And he’s launched a space company, a solar energy business, a car company and more. But after years of trying, there’s one nut Elon Musk can’t quite crack…and Texans may be paying the price. We’ll explore. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 8, 2017

A weekend of voting and ballot counting across Texas: from El Paso to San Antonio to Pasadena: we’ll explore the outcomes and the implications. Also if you’re spending more than you’re bringing in and you’ve been smart enough to plan for a rainy day, you might tap that savings to get thru the storm. But as Texas lawmakers argue over whether to do just that, listeners are asking us where did those unspent billions come from in the first place? We’ll take a look. Plus HEB and Kroger: under German attack? And who says the spirit of bipartisanship has disappeared? Evidence to the contrary, and a texan in the top ten of aisle crossers. All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Voting

We get it, voting requires effort and it’s a choice, but that doesn’t predispose it to being something people just don’t do, so why don’t more people go to the polls when it comes to voting?

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke take on the psychology of voting.