Student voters in the real world are few and far between. But two ‘Real World’ cast members tried to change that fact yesterday in Goldstein Auditorium.

Declare Yourself, a non-profit organization, tried to educate and register to vote as many Syracuse University students as possible.

An original copy of the Declaration of Independence was on display, alongside several security guards, during Declare Yourself’s effort.

The ‘Real World’ and ‘Road Rules’ cast members used their celebrity status to help get the word out about the importance of voting.

‘The best part about this is that we are not pushing or selling voting,’ said Chadwick Pelletier, a former ‘Road Rules: Australia’ cast member. ‘We are just encouraging people. Just letting them understand that their vote counts.’

Even though both cast members expressed frustration with the show’s editing in the aftermath, the two felt a sense of duty to participate in the awareness effort.

‘MTV hasn’t done anything for me except for give a positive platform to do positive things,’ said Joe Patane from ‘Real World: Miami’. ‘Everyone on TV should do these types of things. I find it a responsibility, but I love it.’

SU was Patane and Pelletier’s first trip with Declare Yourself.

‘I was stoked to come out,’ Pelletier said.

Both Pelletier and Patane gave people stickers and walked around the auditorium speaking to students.

‘This is everyone’s patriotic duty and right,’ Patane said. ‘Because we were on TV, people might listen to us.’

Student turnout was not high at the event, but the people who did come were receptive to the ideas presented.

‘This was a really good thing for the university to put on,’ said Chris Lopez, an undeclared freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences. ‘I think this event will make students more aware and bring people to the polls.’

Lopez said he encouraged his friends to go out and learn more about the issues.

‘I wish more people would have come out,’ Pelletier said.

Students who attended had the opportunity to receive free gifts like T-shirts, stickers and posters. Students could receive a laptop bag by giving an interview to a Yahoo! promotional tape about the importance of voting.

Published on March 23, 2004 at 12:00 pm