An original copy of the Declaration of Independence will be available for students to view on campus today.
The document is visiting ASU as part of a "Declare Yourself" campaign, designed to motivate students to vote in the 2004 general election.
The document, printed July 4, 1776, will be on the Union Stage, on the lower level of the Memorial Union.
Declare Yourself is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan campaign to motivate Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 to find reasons to register and vote.
The year-long campaign is currently on an 18-city college campus tour of the United States.
The tour already has been to the University of South Carolina, the University of Florida, Mississippi State University and UA. The tour will continue to schools in California, and conclude at Iowa State University on March 30.
The campaign registered about 400 students during its Monday visit at UA.
"Our goal is to get as many young voters registered and out to the polls in the 2004 presidential election," said Mary McGuire, associate director of Declare Yourself. "We believe it is important because young people are the largest voting bloc in the country, and have the power to affect the election if they use their voice by voting."
The Programming and Activities Board is sponsoring the campaign's visit, which also will feature performances by three spoken-word artists from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m on Hayden Lawn.
Today's performances include Gina Loring, the top-ranking female poet at the 2002 National Poetry Slam.
Loring, 24, said she got involved because it gave her an opportunity to combine her art form and do something for a wonderful cause.
"We're not out there to tell them who to vote for or who to care about," she said. "It's about reminding students we have the amazing gift of freedom, but democracy doesn't work right if people aren't participating."
Declare Yourself was started by Norman Lear, producer of television shows like "All in the Family," "Good Times" and the movie "The Princess Bride." Lear owns the copy of the Declaration of Independence that is featured in the tour.
There are 25 copies of the Declaration of Independence in existence. Lear purchased his for $8.14 million in 2000.
Ferron Dunham, PAB spokesman, said the event is just one of many to get college students to vote this year.
"Students just don't vote, and they need to," Dunham said.
The PAB also will provide voter-registration opportunities and sites for students to vote on the MU/Student Recreation Complex referendum. Students can vote for the referendum today and Thursday.
Reach the reporter at lindsay.butler@asu.edu.
