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This year, AGF is celebrating ten years of impact with the Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere Program. One of “Founding Fifteen” campuses, the Campus Team at CUNY Queens College reflected on the past ten years and their hopes for the future of civic engagement on the campus in Queens, New York.

Queens College has been an Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere campus since the program began back in 2014! What barriers to voting existed on campus prior to 2014?

The main barriers were limited information and availability to adequately educate the campus about voting rights.

From what you know of how things were in 2014, when it comes to voting and civic engagement on campus, what are some of the most noticeable changes?

For a few years, we were consistent in informing, supporting, and getting people to go out to vote while working with other groups on campus. We also worked closely with outside organizations to engage the campus community with civic engagement projects. Unfortunately, things have slowed down since the pandemic because of limited participation.

How has your Campus Team reflected on the legacy of Andrew Goodman, James Earl Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Freedom Summer 1964 over these ten years?

By allowing students to serve as AGF Ambassadors on the same campus Andrew attended classes, we have been able to provide the campus community with further information about the legacy of Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner and how their commitment and sacrifice have led to the current state of affairs that allows for freedom of choice on our campus community.

What are some ways that the Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere program has supported your efforts on campus to increase voter and civic engagement?

The Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere Program at Queens College has provided additional support to the CUNY Votes component that highly emphasizes the importance of voting, while also supporting other organizations on campus like NYPIRG (New York Public Interest Group).

What are your hopes and dreams for what civic engagement will look like on campus ten years from now?

Ten years from now, we hope to have a bigger group of Ambassadors, students who are more passionate about voting, civic engagement, and social justice.

What are the team’s main goals to increase and support voter engagement and turnout in 2024?

Our plan to get out the vote in 2024 is to continue properly informing the campus community while providing important resources to help with the voting process.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Queens College looks forward to acknowledging the 60-year mark of Freedom Summer by highlighting the importance of this event on campus.

Stay tuned as we continue our Campus Connections series, featuring each of our Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere Campus Teams, the impact made on campus, and how they are living the legacy during this pivotal point in our nation’s history.