WILBERFORCE, Ohio — Ohio senatorial and gubernatorial candidates will take center stage for a series of debates this month. Central State University, one of Ohio’s historically Black colleges, will host the debates.

The students shared their excitement about this opportunity during a panel discussion for the upcoming Spectrum News Town Hall segment.

From a young age, Sydney Grayson wanted to make a difference in her community. That’s why she pursued a degree in political science.

“I started finding more interest in politics and what politicians can do or what people in the paralegal can do to change their community,” said Grayson. 

Motivating Black students to vote is also one of her missions. That’s why she attended a student panel discussion on campus about the upcoming senatorial and gubernatorial candidate debates. 

“It’s always been instilled in me to vote and to be present at the polls,” she said. “I want to encourage my fellow students and fellow peers to take action and initiative to go out and vote.”

Voter purging, lack of representation in candidates and voter turnout were some concerns panelists addressed during the discussion. Grayson said purging is a big concern to her because it affects students who attend college in a different city than where they are registered to vote. 

The state of Ohio purges voters if they have not voted for two years or if their address has changed and not reflected on their registration. 

“When we talk about the purging process, I think that it is alarming because as a college student, we have things that can be an obstacle to overcome when it comes to voting,” she said. 

The university will hold three debates for Democratic and Republican candidates over the course of two days. As the university prepares for this big event, President Jack Thomas said he’s looking forward to the opportunity and hopes it will show students the importance of voting.

“I hope this will encourage many of them to vote and to let them know that every vote counts and that their vote matters,” said Thomas. 

While the debates are taking center stage, there’s a lot happening at Central State University. A new honors residence hall, a health and wellness center and other renovation projects are in the works over the next few years. It’s all thanks to a $65 million from the Project Innovation Initiative.

“We believe that we are a good university, but we are doing the things that are necessary to make this institution a great university,” he said. 

As for Grayson, she says she looks forward to watching the debates and deciding who will get her vote for governor and senator. She says she will cast her vote for the person she believes uplifts the community and more.

“Also somebody who has an urgency to uplift things like HBCUs and to uplift the community to come,” she said. 

To learn more about the student panel discussion and the upcoming debates, stay tuned to Spectrum News. The student town hall, Decision 2022 - The Promise of the Vote, will air March 24.

Editor's Note: A previous version of the story incorrectly identified the pronoun of the university president. We regret the mistake and have corrected the error. (March 25, 2022)