UNBC Flashed By A 'Vote Mob'

By Michelle Cyr-Whiting

'Vote Mob' participants gather in UNBC's Winter Garden after storming the campus

Prince George, B.C. - As is the way with the social phenomena of 'flash mobs', there was an outbreak of frenzied chaos at the University of Northern B.C. over the noon-hour...

Close to 100 students and supporters - many dressed proudly in red and white - gathered in the main courtyard of the Prince George campus to take part in a 'vote mob', recording a video of their efforts to encourage more young people to get out and vote, as they charged around campus.

The event, organized by the Northern Undergraduate Student Society, was in answer to a call from Rick Mercer for youth to get out there and vote.  (For video footage of the mob, click photo at right)

Caitlin Croft admits her friends told her to come out, and the Commerce student says she feels opportunities like this mobilize youth, "And, also, letting (youth) know their opinion does matter, that - yes - even though we're young, we're the generation that's coming into the workforce and we should have a say in politics."

"I'm actually a foreigner, I'm not voting," says Alvaro Palazuelos, a Masters student at UNBC from Argentina, "But I think it's something that needs to be supported and I think youth need to be way, way more involved."

UNBC alum, Camellia Bhatti says she's always voted but says this is a great way to raise awareness about the issues, "I think the education is just not out there on what youth can do to make a change and why they should be voting - everything that happens affects us directly because it is our future."

"I feel it's important that we express ourselves as youth voters," says prospective student, Dave Stinson.  "I don't know if they're (the politicians) hearing us, but the more we get out to vote, the more likely it is that they will."

Speaking to students as they cheered a successful wrap of their 'mob', NUGSS President Nadia Nowak, is urging participants to keep the momentum going, "In the last election, the youth voter turn-out was 37-percent - we need to change that."  (photo at left is UNBC student, Alexie Stephens)

"There are three-million young people in Canada, if we turn-out to the polls, we can shift politics in Canada, we can make a difference - our votes counts, your voices are powerful, you have to head to the polls on May 2nd."

UNBC's 'vote mob' video is being forwarded to MTV Canada where it will be included in a special episode presenting a 'mash up' of similar events held at 19 campuses across the country.  It will air on April 19th.

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