WHO:     Activists from national student, political and civic engagement groups; elected official and University of Pennsylvania students

WHAT: "Taking Back the Vote" Symposium

WHEN: Noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004

WHERE: Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St.

A major goal of the symposium, sponsored by Penn's Robert A. Fox Leadership Program, is to stem the rising tide of voter apathy in American youth through a series of talks on issues surrounding young voters.  The day will feature a major student activist fair and readers theater performance of the new book "Taking Back the Vote: Getting American Youth Involved in Our Democracy"  written by Jane Eisner, a senior fellow in the Fox Leadership Program.  

The symposium will kick off at noon with a one-hour panel discussion, "Bush and Kerry Campaigns: What are the Presidential Candidates Saying to Young Voters? "  with representatives from the Bush and Kerry campaigns.   

From 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.  Michael Delli Carpini, dean of Penn's Annenberg School for Communication, will moderate a panel, "What's Working to Mobilize College Voters?" with Jaime Uzeta of MTV, Jennifer Phillips of the National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement, Ivan Frishberg of the New Voters Project and Alexis McGill of Citizen Change.

From 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. "Why are Youth Volunteering but not Voting?" moderated by Judy Vredenburg, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, will be examined with panelists Alan Khazei of City Year, Erin Ross of United Leaders in Boston, and Ira Harkavy, director of Penn's Center for Community Partnerships.

From 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Pennsylvania congressional candidate Allyson Schwartz and Carl Fogliani, campaign manager for Pennsylvania congressional candidate Melissa Brown, will discuss "What Can Congress Do for You?"

All events are free and open to the public.  Participants are encouraged to RSVP at Leadthevote@sas.upenn.edu