By Chris Webb/nw news editor

The presidential elections are approaching and student participation is increasing, but some students are doing more than others to get the word out.

A’Isha Malone, NW Campus instructor of speech, has gotten her public speaking class, now self-coined as Students for Change, to organize a political rally May 1, 12:30-2 p.m. in WSTU 1303-1305. The rally is co-sponsored by Students for Law and Politics with a common goal to raise awareness about the candidates and the issues.

“The class has worked all semester on this project. I just gave them the idea; the entire rally will be student run,” she said. “Since we have been planning this since the beginning, it will be a pretty spectacular event. The students have been conducting surveys all year to find out what issues are most important to the student body.”

After selecting the issues, the different groups in the class will express where each candidate stands on each issue.

“For public speaking, you have to know about the issue and know both sides of the issue to be a dynamic speaker,” she said. “Our ultimate goal is to inform people about voting and its importance. There will even be a voter registration table set up.”

In addition to the voter registration table and speeches for each candidate, the class is also creating commercials to represent their candidate.

“The commercials are part of the process of persuasion, teaching students how to motivate people and how advertising works. The students are completely responsible for putting these videos together,” Malone said.

Booths representing presidential candidates will be set up nearby with pamphlets, flyers and promotional items.

“The students just love it. It’s exciting to see their transition into confident public speakers,” she said. “It is equally exciting to see many of them turn into voters and take an interest in who is running their country.”