Giancarlo Musetti
Tufts University
Giancarlo Musetti, a first year student at Tufts University, is a student leader in political learning and engagement. He has worked tirelessly to educate students on the impact of student voting, and he has united student political groups across campus in a coalition to register Tufts students to vote. Tisch College, a part of Tufts that works to offer all students tranformational student learning and service opportunities, recently launched a new initiative called Jumbo Vote to increase political learning on campus. Giancarlo immediately stepped up as a leader in this endeavor. He has a clear commitment and passion for social justice, and his enthusiasm for the democratic process has been a positive force across campus. He is widely respected by faculty, staff, and peers, providing a strong example of what it means to be an active citizen.
Personal Statement
I am interested in the causes of voter apathy in the U.S. and solutions to improve voter turnout, a topic I explored in a literature review paper. I believe involvement in the political process is necessary to stand up for individual rights. As the freshman representative of Tufts Democrats, I have canvassed to get out the vote for the 2016 presidential election in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. As the director of Tufts Votes, a non-partisan group dedicated to registering students to vote, I have galvanized a group of students to register people to vote. I have recently organized voter registration efforts for nine other political groups on campus that have united to fight voter apathy and to increase political awareness. My efforts have helped to register hundreds of students at Tufts University. I am planning GOTV efforts for the upcoming election to make it easier for students to reach the polls. I am working with Tisch College, a college at Tufts that works with students to participate in democratic and civic life, to make voter registration more accessible online and to communicate with the student body about our efforts.
