Statement from Iowa PIRG and Iowa Student Leaders

It is has recently come to our attention that some presidential candidates are suggesting that students in Iowa should not caucus. We're shocked that any national figure would advocate for youth disenfranchisement. This goes against the very grain of our democracy and the core values of our nation. We live here in Iowa for the majority of the year and make our homes here; we are active participants in our communities- volunteering, giving back and contributing intellectual and financial resources to the state. To say that students who didn’t grow up in Iowa, but who now live here, shouldn’t have the choice to participate in the caucuses is blatant voter disenfranchisement.

We have been working hard to encourage our peers to be active participants in their democracy because college students and young people should be more involved in politics. The Secretary of State’s office is clear that college students have the choice and the right to vote and caucus in Iowa. We all know that more young people need to get involved in the political process and we are asking you to take the following steps to ensure that this happens:

First, make it clear through your actions and issue a statement that you support all young Iowans – including students – right to vote and caucus in Iowa whether we are from Iowa or attend college in Iowa. Second, come in to our communities and actively seek us out and engage us on the issues we care about.

Sincerely,

Barret Anderson, Student Government President, University of Iowa
Alan Cosby, Student Government Chief of Staff, University of Iowa
Alejandro Alonso, Student Senator, University of Iowa
Harrison Wheeler, Student Government Publicity Chair, University of Iowa
Brian Phillips, Student Body President, Iowa State University
Dan Sadowski, Student Government President, Drake University
Julian Vandervelde, Right Guard for Hawkeyes football team, University of Iowa
Frederick Warren, Co-President Drake Environmental Action League, Drake University
Kaitlyn Golden, Student Leader, Drake University
Jessica Fischer, Student Leader, Drake University
Megan Bailey, Student Leader, Drake University
Rachel Haase, Student leader, Drake University
Kate Preston, Student leader, Drake University
Megan Stephenson, Iowa PIRG coordinator, University of Iowa
Colleen Delahanty, Iowa PIRG coordinator, University of Iowa
Stacey Wilson, Iowa PIRG Chair, Drake University
Devin Hartman, Iowa PIRG Chair, Iowa State University
Eleanor Kahn, Iowa PIRG Chair, Iowa State University Iowa State
Ryan Crane, Iowa PIRG Chair, University of Northern Iowa
Kristen Paeth, Iowa PIRG Co-Chair, University of Northern Iowa
Samuel Charnetski, President of Inter-Fraternity Council, University of Northern Iowa
Kristin Langner, President of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Club, University of Northern Iowa