Have you ever wondered what happens when higher education runs out of things to teach and decides to take a crack at your children’s minds instead? I present the grand spectacle unfolding at the University of Nevada, Reno, where Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar—has joined hands with a mighty outfit called the ALL-IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
That name alone ought to make a sensible man nervous. Anything with “Challenge” in the title–seems to be a dressed-up excuse for coaxing the young into line.
The idea, they say, is to empower the students. Now, I don’t know what brand of power they’re selling, but it seems to me the whole affair smells more like a sales pitch than a civics lesson.
Aguilar got up at the university and told a room full of eager minds, “We require a very systematic approach in teaching young voters…”
Systematic! That’s a word I’d usually expect from a dentist or a dog trainer.
They want to teach these children to vote—no harm in that, you might say—but not by letting them figure things out for themselves. Oh, no.
That would be dangerous. Instead, the outfit’s handing paper ballots out like party favors, drilling signatures like boot camp, and spoon-feeding the sacred act of registration like it’s oatmeal.
All in the name of nonpartisan engagement–of course—just a friendly, institutional nudge in whatever direction the university deems “informed.”
And then President Brian Sandoval, former Nevada Governor, stood up with all the pomp of a man unveiling a new steam engine and proudly declared, “We are proud to have one of the voting places right on campus.”
Not only that, but the students volunteered on campaigns, worked with registrars, and threw themselves into the “community.” Now, which community that is and who’s defining it is another matter altogether.
The university even received an award—for being particularly good at marching young people to the ballot box. They call it a “Seal of Recognition,” which sounds very noble but also brings to mind the circus variety, the kind that claps on command.
And what does this ALL-IN gang do? They “provide structure,” “offer support,” and “recognize excellence,” all without taking sides.
Naturally.
Because a group formed for “engaging the democratic process” would never dream of guiding the outcome. Nope, just a kindly shepherd driving every lamb into the preselected corral.
It ain’t about democracy—it’s about direction. It’s about higher education stretching its long arms into the voting booth and whispering sweet suggestions while calling it “learning.” It’s about making young minds feel valued for following instructions.
The real kicker? Nevada’s youth turnout was 57.2 percent, beating the national average by a mile. That ain’t accidental. It’s the result of a carefully oiled machine designed not to inspire thought but to produce voters by assembly line.
If you believe democracy should get exercised with care, not coached like a schoolyard sport, this should leave a sour taste in your mouth. When education becomes persuasion, and civic learning turns into civic herding, we no longer raise citizens—we manufacture them.
The Old Blog in the Desert 