ETSU found a creative way to encourage student voter engagement in the 2024 election cycle, with a little help from a couple of campus’s most beloved Buccaneers.
During a voter registration drive last September, Bucky, ETSU’s playful
mascot, launched his campaign for “Best Buc” in an effort to raise awareness for upcoming election-related events and increase
voter turnout.
Bucky quickly learned that he would face some stiff competition. Pepper, ETSU’s well-known campus therapy dog, challenged Bucky for the title, posting on her Instagram “who’s going to tell [Bucky] that the title of “Best Buccaneer” is already taken?”
Bucky and Pepper’s friendly squabble was a partnership with ETSU Votes, a student voter registration and engagement program developed by the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement.
The faux campaign ran from September to election day, featuring back-and-forth social posts from Bucky and Pepper poking fun at each other. Some notable posts include photos of Bucky accidentally scaring kids at sports events and Pepper rolling around in the mud, accompanied by silly captions accusing each other of being the worst candidate.
Bucky and Pepper didn’t just promote their own bids for ‘Best Buccaneer,’ they also encouraged students to attend ETSU’s lineup of election-themed events, where they handed out goodies like “Vote for Bucky!” posters and “Pepper for President!” t-shirts.
The activities included pop-up voter registration drives, conversations with city commissioners, and an election results watch party.
Bucky and Pepper’s hard work paid off, because ETSU was recognized as a “Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting” and as having a “Highly Established Action Plan” for 2024 by the All In Campus Democracy Challenge. ETSU was also designated a “Voter Friendly Campus” by the Campus Vote Project and NASPA.
The rivalry finally concluded in a joint Instagram post of Bucky hugging Pepper, urging the coming together of both sides and a last chance at early voting. “Remember, we are one ETSU,” the caption read. The campaign was a timely reminder of unity, when several of ETSU Votes’ events were postponed due to Hurricane Helene and the campus community came together as one.
“At ETSU, we strive to help our students become productive, well-informed, and engaged citizens,” said Nathan Farnor, Coordinator of Leadership and Civic Engagement. “Ensuring that all Americans exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard is foundational to our democracy.”
The Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement aims to uplift ETSU's vision of improving the quality of life in the region and beyond by promoting community service, leadership development, and civic engagement as foundational to the Buccaneer collegiate experience.
By Ember Brummitt | Photos By Charlie Warden and Ron Campbell
Read more incredible stories in the Winter 2025 Edition of ETSU Today. #BucsGoBeyond
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