Running down the edge of each walkway in the Moorpark College quad were tents and tables with representatives promoting various political parties. Meanwhile, up on the stage were the many great speakers informing students on the United States Constitution and issues relevant to the upcoming election.

Although the official Constitution Day was on Friday, Sept. 16, Moorpark College celebrated on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. in an effort to enlighten students on the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution, as well as issues involved in the upcoming state and nationwide elections.

With booths from political parties like the Green and Libertarian parties and Ventura County voter registration, students were introduced to the political climate in their local community while also being able to conveniently of register to vote in-between classes, which is what Natalie Tumamait, 19-year-old sociology major, appreciated most.

“Having a booth set up to register to vote was great!” smiled Tumamait. “If this wasn’t here today, I probably wouldn’t have had a chance between work and school.”

Faye Dalida, records technician for the Ventura County Registrar, was the face behind the booth reaching out to students and helping to register new voters, as well as update current registrations, making all necessary adjustments to ensure individuals will be able to vote and voice their thoughts this November.

Dalida thinks it’s always good for voters to have their own opinion so they can help improve where they live by voicing it. Through measures and laws aligned with those opinions, voting can make a big difference.

“I think it’s important for college students to vote because they can make a difference on how their college atmosphere can be, if there is any improvements for programs or funds that are needed, it’s important to vote,” said Dalida.

Dalida explained how most people who stopped by the booth were already registered to vote, but stopped by to inquire about the registering process.

“It seems like everyone around here is pretty well informed in politics, so that’s really good,” expressed Dalida.

While Dalida was there to help register for any party, Colleen Graven, member of the Democratic Party, also set up a booth and informed people that they have the right to vote and why it’s important to do so.

“It makes a difference in student loans, it can make the difference in the cleanliness in their water, their health insurance,” said Graven. “Twenty votes can make a difference in the local elections whether a person wins or loses.”

Trevor Olsen, 23-year-old graduate from Cal Luthern University with a degree in physics, stopped by to check out the environment and see who the speakers were and what they had to say.

“I am very much about the Constitution and a lot of people I have been talking to recently in my social aspect don’t understand the constitution fully, and nor do I, so I want to learn as much as I can about it,” conveyed Olsen.

Speakers at the event included philosophy instructor Jerry Kaplan and criminal justice instructor Chad Basil along with Moorpark College president Luis Sanchez, who was able to speak about why the Constitution is so important to this nation.

“Constitution Day is a day that tends to go unnoticed by the general public, but it has enormous significance to us,” said Sanchez. “It has seen this nation through more than a couple of hundred years and we hope that it carries us forward for at least another couple of hundred years.”

But it wasn’t just the mini-constitution booklets and free ice cream that drew students to the event. Booths informing students on specific candidates and parties along with well-versed speakers, gave students the opportunity to celebrate and gain more depth and understanding during this year’s Constitution Day, which is what Michael Hoffman, journalism professor, said was the goal the Student Voice set out to achieve in hosting this event.

“Creating engaged and informed students is one of the ultimate goals Moorpark hoped to see from having Constitution Day,” explained Hoffman. “We want to make sure students connect the abstract ideas in the Constitution to basic freedoms.”