Tigers march to the polls on Election Day

By Paris Blaylock

Chants of “Tigers vote! Tigers vote!” echoed down the Tiger Walk as Texas Southern University’s sorority and fraternity members marched to the polls at the Recreation Center on Election Day.

Signs decorated with “Vote” dotted the herd of the students who made their way to the polls with TSU’s Greek life at its head.

The thunderous start to the day didn’t stop students from gathering to encourage their peers to participate in this election.

Taylor Getwood, TSU student regent and Kappa Alpha Psi member joined students, ensuring they vote, clearing up misconceptions, and emphasizing the need to get to the polls today despite the morning rain.

“There was a time where our ancestors and forefathers marched in the rain, sleet, and snow for the right and the opportunity to utilize their vote,” Getwood said.

Student Regent Taylor Getwood

As a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Getwood attributes his election enthusiasm to his fraternity.

“I have had the opportunity to meet and sit with other Black men who think either like me, and sometimes, in some cases, probably disagreed with some of the thoughts I may have had,” he said.

With anxieties high due to the divisiveness of this election, Getwood wants his peers to know that the results are based on their decisions today.

“The results will be what we make it,” he said. “This is a consequential election. There is going to be consequences if you don’t get out and vote.”

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity rallied with their signs at their “Stroll to the Polls” event from their Greek tree to the polling center on campus.

President Kyler Williams led the group today and implemented the “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” program on campus this year.

Williams said the program has registered almost 350 students to vote at TSU since January.

“The program is centered around voting, whether it’s voter registration, voter education, or voter participation,” Williams said.

Mister TSU Jackie Edwards Jr. joined his fraternity brothers on their trek today while using his influence and their program on campus to motivate students to make informed decisions.

He confirmed his fraternity’s involvement in educating students during this election season, emphasizing having accurate information.

“That way, you know what you’re voting for, and you understand it,” Edwards said.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority partnered with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and joined the march on the Tiger Walk, intending to rally student athletes’ votes.

Jaelyn White, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, stressed the vitality of this election and the fact that students have easy access to voting this year.

“By putting a voting center on campus, like in the middle of campus, it gives you no reason to not be able to use your voice. It gives you no reason to say, “Oh, I can’t go” because you literally walk past it every day when you go to class,” White said.

TSU’s Greek organizations have worked tirelessly this semester to educate the student body by creating informational posts on Instagram and hosting voter registration sessions on campus.

Although Kamala Harris is an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated member, White emphasizes the sorority’s impartiality.

“Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporated is a non-biased organization. It’s not even about who we’re voting for. It’s about the fact that you vote in general,” she said.

Jaelyn White, AKA

White said voting is imperative as the rights of U.S. citizens hang in the balance.

“It’s like a scale. It could either tip one way or it could tip the other way, whether in a positive way or a negative way,” White said.

The message today was clear. “You have a voice,” she said. “Use it !”

No matter how this election goes today, TSU students made it clear that their voices will be heard.

Scouring the Tiger Walk in the early morning hours and enabling students since the start of the semester, TSU has had its hand in ensuring that students’ voices are heard during this election season.

“Life is going to have its obstacles. No matter what, you can’t make excuses,” Mister TSU Jackie Edwards said.