Opinion: From battleground to common ground, CSU and CU channel football rivalry to support civic engagement

Saturday marks the latest chapter in Colorado’s greatest rivalry as the Colorado State University Rams and the CU Boulder Buffaloes go head-to-head in the Rocky Mountain Showdown — the first time Fort Collins has hosted the matchup since 1996.

This year, four lucky students will watch the game from the sideline based on their completion of one simple act: registering to vote.

On a day marked by rivalry, fanfare and some of the most exciting football our state has to offer, we’re taking this opportunity to highlight something even greater — our universities’ role in democracy and the efforts we are undertaking to develop graduates who believe in the power of civic engagement.

As public universities serving more than 70,000 students, it’s an obligation we take seriously — but also one that calls for some friendly competition.

This week, in partnership with CU and CSU student governments and the nonpartisan organization Headcount, we asked students at both campuses to log onto their respective webpages and register to vote, confirm their existing registration, or sign up to receive nonpartisan voter information. Any of those actions provides a shot at winning sideline tickets to the soldout Showdown, while the school with the most overall student participation gets major bragging rights.

It’s lighthearted fun that belies a deeper motivation. Encouraging and enabling students to participate in civic life is central to our missions as public universities, and we’re embracing this responsibility even more intently during this election year.

Building the foundation for civic engagement starts in our classrooms and public spaces, as we encourage the free and open exchange of ideas — even when we disagree.

Recently our campuses have peacefully hosted a variety of speakers and perspectives — from actor and activist Jane Fonda, former Trump Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, and a conversation between Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, at CSU, to activist Chris Rufo and Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi and Alicia Garza, cofounders of the Black Lives Matter movement, at CU Boulder.

These events challenge our students to listen and interact with an open mind — a trait we hope will become a lifelong practice. Last year CSU launched a “Year of Democracy,” and democracy-related events drew nearly 7,000 attendees to nearly 200 events. Meanwhile, CU Boulder has identified preparing students to participate in a diverse democracy among its top campus goals.

Visiting speakers and co-curricular activities are intended to complement the education that’s happening every day in our classrooms, as students delve into history and government, philosophy and sociology, law, languages, and the sciences. When approached with curiosity, these conversations allow students to explore the nuance that exists within many contested issues and to consider why others might hold a particular perspective.

We also believe that civic engagement is a muscle that can be strengthened over time — and we want to make it easy for students to get started or dig deeper.

We’ve launched websites to guide students on the First Amendment and free expression, providing direction on talking with friends and classmates, organizing petitions, emailing government representatives, joining peaceful demonstrations, volunteering, and, for those who are eligible, voting.

In 2020, more than 80% of eligible CU Boulder students and more than 74% of eligible CSU students voted. This year, we aim to trample those figures.

When our efforts succeed, the reward will be greater than bragging rights or sideline tickets. The result will be a new cohort of students who are building the habits of engaged citizenship from their earliest opportunity.

Still, there’s more we can do.

At CSU, strengthening democracy is one of five presidential priorities. The campus continues its commitment with “Democracy at CSU,” which includes noteworthy speakers, student government-led events, and a documentary titled “The CSU Democracy Project,” which showcases democracy in action on campus and is scheduled for debut in 2025.

The Associated Students of CSU hosted a presidential debate watch party in conjunction with a Q&A with leadership from national nonpartisan organization No Labels. 

At CU Boulder School of Law, the popular Mini Law School launched this week and will focus its six-week public program on how the 2024 election will impact various areas of law including health care, immigration and more.

The Boulder campus hosted a presidential debate watch party Tuesday with a panel of election experts, along with another watch party Oct. 1 for the vice presidential debate.

Tomorrow’s civic leaders won’t simply emerge overnight; they will be fashioned from years of practicing how to distinguish fact from fiction, clarify their own viewpoints, craft persuasive arguments, and contribute to the public good. We are proud that both CSU and CU Boulder provide fertile ground for students to practice the kinds of civic engagement that our democracy needs to thrive.

So whether you’re supporting Buffs or Rams, donkeys or elephants, or none of the above this fall, there’s power in making your voice heard on issues that matter. This year’s Showdown, we have a chance to show up for democracy.

Amy Parsons became president of Colorado State University on Feb. 1, 2023.

Justin Schwartz became chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder on July 1, 2024.

The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy. Learn how to submit a column. Reach the opinion editor at opinion@coloradosun.com.

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