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CNN Political Commentator Van Jones Gives Students a Glimpse ‘Behind the Ballot’ as Election Day Nears

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With early voting underway and Election Day a week away, CNN political commentator Van Jones told Cal State Fullerton students that character matters in candidates as they cast their vote in the 2024 election. 

Jones responded to a student’s question about candidates’ character following his Oct. 24 talk at the inaugural Behind the Ballot civic engagement event, presented by Associated Students Inc. and the Division of Student Affairs.

“I think character matters. I think the country has got to make a choice, and whatever choice the country makes, we’ll have to live with it.”

Behind the Ballot is a civic engagement event that aims to inform and educate college students through Q&A dialogue with a political influencer. 

The Yale-educated attorney, Emmy Award-winning producer and author of three New York Times best-selling books fielded questions from student moderator Kayla Lam during the evening program, followed by questions from students in the audience.

Jones talked about his childhood, work as a civil rights advocate and professional success. He addressed such topics as civic engagement, the benefit of civil discourse and the importance of voting. 

Voters registered to vote in Orange County may vote in person at the Titan Student Union vote center beginning Saturday, Nov. 2. The campus vote center will be open every day until Nov 5.

Lessons Behind the Ballot

Alexis Cuevas, a graduate assistant in ASI’s student programming and engagement department, was among the students who attended the event. 

Cuevas, pursuing a master’s degree in higher education, said Jones’ message about the importance of voting resonated with her because the outcome of local measures and candidates elected locally directly impact students.

“With this upcoming election, civic engagement is important to discuss because of the divide in our country,” said Cuevas, a first-generation college graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from CSUF in May. “Many people associate themselves with one side or another, so promoting civic engagement and getting students to vote for the kind of future they want is critical.”

Political commentator Van Jones with CSUF Students at Behind the Ballot
CNN political commentator Van Jones poses with Associated Students Inc. students and staff following the Behind the Ballot civic engagement event. Business administration major Kayla Lam, front row, second from right, moderated the event. (Courtesy of Associated Students Inc.)

When asked about college students’ indifference toward voting and whether their votes counted, Jones shared a lesson about the 2000 presidential election contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Jones emphasized that Bush won the election by a mere 537-vote margin.

“I’m not going to lie. There is a very hard truth about voting. You cannot vote and get everything you want,” he said. “If you want to make a community successful, voting is one of the many things you have to do.”

Lam, a business administration major and ASI programs and events coordinator, asked Jones what students can do when feeling overwhelmed and struggling to understand confusing ballot propositions and candidates for office. 

Jones advised that college students should “find a source you respect” for information, such as political party voter guides. Voting isn’t an exam, he added: “If you just don’t know, you can leave it blank.”

He also urged students to get involved with their communities because they’re the ones who will benefit most. He spoke about his work to get bills passed, as an advocate for people falsely imprisoned and activism for coal miners who lost their pensions and health.

“It’s impossible to volunteer, get involved and contribute and not get way more out of it,” he said.  “You’ll never make the world perfect, but you grow your heart, mind and network of people.

“To solve problems, you’ll need people who don’t look like you, pray like you, love like you. You have to work with people who are completely different.”

From Rural Beginnings 

Jones opened up about his childhood and humble beginnings in rural Tennessee. He relayed that his parents, both educators, were born in the segregated South. His father joined the military to escape poverty and put himself through college.

After high school, Jones attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he studied communications and political science, then enrolled in Yale Law School in 1990.

“I’ve come a long way. My dad started with nothing and gave me everything,” he said.

Jones said his mother always told him he could do anything. He encouraged students to put aside doubts and push forward to achieve their goals.

“What I’m saying is no pressure, no diamonds. The struggle is what will make you great. It’s your ability to overcome that makes your story special.”

Contact:
Debra Cano Ramos
dcanoramos@fullerton.edu