Freshman global studies major Jocelyn Hunt, the local coordinator for Race to the Ballot, answers an audience question about Amendment One at Thursday's teach-in in Carol Grotnes Belk Library and Information Commons. The teach-in was sponsored by the People's Alliance for American Liberty (PAAL PAC). Photo by Olivia Wilkes l The Appalachian

The People’s Alliance for American Liberty (PAAL PAC) sponsored the event as part of the statewide Race to the Ballot campaign.

A panel of six weighed in on the amendment. Speakers included Matthew Robinson and Adam Newmark, both professors in Appalachian State University’s department of justice and government studies, along with religious leaders.

Graphic by Kevin Boodtama | The Appalachian

“We all have opinions about things and a lot of the time, our opinions about issues are formed by or relate to these theories, but we don’t know it,” Robinson said. “So, what I’m trying to do is show you you can come up with an opinion about Amendment One based on these well-established theories of justice.”

Newmark discussed the possible effects of the amendment.

“It’s during a Republican primary, it’s supported by mostly Republicans and certainly conservatives and the fact of the matter is the Republican turnout will be much higher than Democratic or independent turnout because we know who the Democratic nominee for president is going to be,” Newmark said.

Former Appalachian student Ian O’Keefe, who took this semester off to campaign for Race to the Ballot, was at the teach-in.

“I feel like the campaign makes a real difference in the minds of the students and community members,” O’Keefe said. “A lot of people I spoke to did not realize the implications of the amendment and after hearing the harms, they realize that there are no positives and there are a lot of negatives.”

Freshman global studies major Jocelyn Hunt, campaign director for PAAL PAC and local coordinator for Race to the Ballot, organized the teach-in.

“I think the campaign is going great,” Hunt said. “We definitely need to get more students aware of it.”

Story: KELLI STRAKA, Senior News Reporter
Photo: OLIVIA WILKES, Photo Editor
Graphic: KEVIN BOODTAMA, Intern Web Graphic Designer