Feb. 26, 2025
Written by Julia Hernandez
Turn Up Turnout (TUT), a student organization sponsored by the Ginsberg Center recently concluded its busiest period with the 2024 presidential election. Since its founding in 2017, TUT has been the University of Michigan’s foremost nonpartisan student-led organization dedicated to civic engagement. TUT works to increase voter education, registration, and turnout among all eligible University of Michigan students and in the surrounding communities of our Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses.
“We are a strictly non-partisan student engagement organization,” said Maurielle Courtois, TUT’s co-president. “Our mission is all about voting and democratic access, and we believe that people should vote their voices, as well as show their voices. TUT centers community at the core of our work by being involved in local politics. We also try to reach as many people as possible, including the Dearborn and Flint campuses.”
Reflecting on this past year, TUT’s co-presidents see their work in the most recent election as their biggest accomplishment. In preparation for the election, TUT hosted 20 walks to the polls, 60 classroom participants, and staffed a voter registration hotline, all while being full-time students.
TUT holds a unique position as the sole student organization involved in the UMICH Votes Coalition, contributing significantly to the university’s efforts to boost voter turnout.
“Our direct work with the Ann Arbor City Clerk's office, faculty and staff from the UMICH Votes Coalition, and other student organizations create an inherent way for our members to continue in the civic engagement space during their time at Michigan and beyond,” said Hillary Poudeu Tchokothe, co-president of TUT.
As expressed by TUT’s co-presidents, the relationship between the Ginsberg Center and TUT has helped foster TUT’s community engagement goals, especially with support and advocacy from Ginsberg Center staff like Elizabeth Netcher and Dave Waterhouse.
If you're inspired to join TUT, we welcome you to fill out this Google Form and visit their website for more details.