Finding ‘You’ In Democracy Day: Stanford’s Path to Civic Engagement
This year’s Democracy Day on November 5, 2024, comes at a heightened moment as the nation prepares for another pivotal presidential election. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to campus closures, moving much of the election-related activity online and limiting in-person engagement. The 2016 presidential election was the last time the campus saw full-scale engagement, with emotions running high both during and after the results. Today, Stanford’s Democracy Day is not only reigniting that sense of civic involvement but also taking a different approach—one that’s not only about political participation but also about wellness, empowerment, and dialogue.
Democracy Day has five flagship events that have continued year after year: (1) Dine & Dialogue, (2) a Keynote Speaker, (3) the Public Service Careers Mixer, (4) Election Night Watch Party, and (5) Party at the Polls. “These events are the core of Democracy Day,” emphasized Vice-Chair Keira Chatwin '27, “and our big goal is to make sure we’re constantly improving what these events look like.”
Inclusion and Wellness in Political Participation
“What’s also important about Democracy Day is that we lift up things that are already happening, and that’s through our partnership events,” shared Chair Jeannette Wang ‘26. One collaboration includes On Call, an evening event designed to offer students a chance to unwind and process the day’s conversations. As Wang and Chatwin explained during our conversation, it's important to recognize the emotional toll that political engagement can take, especially in a polarized climate: “There were a lot of feelings in 2016, during and after the election, that we learned from and we want to provide spaces and resources for students to feel supported in their engagement this year.”
The Public Service Careers Mixer will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Alumni Center, Fischer Conference Hall, with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. Wang shared that she’s most excited about the mixer because it’s an excellent opportunity for students to explore how their studies intersect with public service and meet people who can guide them in their careers. “This year, our framing for Democracy Day is about two things,” Wang explained. “First, we want everyone to leave feeling that their story can intersect with democracy, no matter their major, occupation, or field of study. Second, we want them to leave not only believing in that intersection but also knowing what they can do next.”
Chatwin expressed her excitement for the Dine & Dialogue event at the Faculty Club from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., saying, “Dine & Dialogue, a dinner with faculty, creates a great space for students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and departments to connect and have meaningful conversations about democracy and the direction of our nation. It’s a place where students can feel that their perspectives are genuinely valued.” In addition to the meaningful conversations, the dinner format allows for a more personal connection between students and faculty. “It almost levels the playing field to sit there and have dinner with incredible tenured professors across fields,” said Chatwin.
Civic Engagement and Civil Dialogue
While there are clear concerns about modern democracy, such as polarization and political apathy, there’s also a lot of passion—particularly among younger generations—building as we approach the election. This passion extends beyond supporting democracy alone; it encompasses broader efforts toward civic engagement across the U.S. “Especially on a college campus like Stanford, there’s so much value in bringing the perspective of youth,” shared Chatwin. “This is an inspiring place to be around. You’re surrounded by people who are very politically engaged, which creates a community that pushes each other to know what's going on in the world and be more civically involved. It's the kind of environment where movements can begin, and initiatives like Democracy Day form to engage not only ourselves but also inspire the communities around us.”
And Democracy Day should be more than just a ‘day.’ Wang explains, “I've been working with the Stanford Democracy Hub to build a coalition of all the people on campus who are doing work and caring about democracy.” She points out how she wants this year to be the start of a culture change at Stanford, where it feels like democracy and civic engagement are part of the culture and the values of Stanford every day. “I want it to feel like this is something that the faculty and the staff and fellow students are doing to make democracy work.”
Democracy Day is also an opportunity for students and community members to engage in constructive dialogue with each other about their beliefs, experiences, and civic identities. One activity, called Across the Aisle, hosted by the Stanford Political Union, brings together conservative and liberal students to discuss their perspectives on the election in a way that models civil dialogue. Another, hosted by the McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society, invites students to build civic self-portraits together that encourage dialogue about their civic commitments, their political values, and their major influences. According to Collin Anthony Chen, Director of Graduate & Undergraduate Programs and one of the organizers of the event, “the civic self-portrait activity lowers the barrier of entry for students to have conversations about the political values most salient to them. These opportunities are crucial for building trust and enable students to view each other holistically, rather than just as individuals with particular beliefs about particular issues.”
Learn more about Stanford’s Democracy Day and its activities and events, including the Election Night Watch Party and Party at the Polls. This year's keynote speaker is Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation and former senior advisor to President Obama.
April Pacheco is an undergraduate senior at Stanford studying history and comparative studies in race and ethnicity. She is passionate about immigrant rights and urban education and enjoys visiting her home in Los Angeles.