If students taking "Introduction to American Politics" want to attend class today, they'll have to get in touch with professor John DiIulio.
That's because DiIulio has assigned his students an extra credit project: Don't come to class, just get out the vote.
He will end up holding class for those who opt in, but Fox Leadership officials estimate that a large portion of the class will be volunteering on Election Day.
DiIulio has arranged for his students to volunteer with the student-led Penn Leads the Vote, which works to maximize campus awareness about the election.
DiIulio is the faculty director for Fox Leadership, which organized Penn Leads the Vote 2006.
About 200 students from Intro to American Politics are expected to show up,
according to College senior Bren Darrow, the president of Penn Leads the Vote.
"At 3 p.m., we will launch a final get-out-the-vote effort with over 200 volunteers roaming campus, making noise, reminding people to vote and pointing out polling locations," Darrow said.
The 200 students will be divided into six different groups, which will then be dispatched to various areas across campus including the Quadrangle, 34th and Walnut streets and Huntsman Hall.
The students are required to wear "Penn Leads the Vote" T-shirts and will rotate every 20 minutes between locations.
"The goal of this exercise is to not only raise awareness about voting but also promote civic engagement among the students themselves," said Josh Power, assistant director of Fox Leadership.
And promote they will. With 95 percent of DiIulio's class planning to be involved in today's activities on campus, organizers say they are optimistic about the project.
This is the first time extra credit has been offered to students in this course for helping out during an election year.
And while the extra credit is a perk, students realize the impact of their intentions.
"I think getting people to vote is important," College sophomore Evan Schlom said. "I don't know if it will make a difference, but it has a noble goal."
