Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: News

Left, Johnny Fister and Mary Davies apart of Declare Yourself an organization that travels to different Universities to get more college students to register. They worked with cast members from ABC network show Greek in order t o promote the event today outside of the bookstore today Sept. 2nd.-Claire Padgett

Mary Davies working with Declare Yourself travels to different Universities to make registering to vote more accessible to college students today Sept. 2nd.-Claire Padgett [Click to enlarge]

Cast members from the ABC Family show "Greek" stopped by Sacramento State today as part of a national effort to boost youth voter registration.

Actresses Dilshad Vadsaria, a senator's daughter and new pledge in the show's fictional sorority and Tiffany Dupont, a former sorority president, were on hand to sign autographs, pose for pictures, and offer students voter registration forms they could submit immediately at tables outside the Hornet Bookstore.

Vadsaria and Dupont were working in connection with Declare Yourself, a non-profit organization that registers young voters across the country.

"We don't want to preach how you should vote or who you should vote for," said Johnny Fister, 23, who has worked with Declare Yourself over the summer registering voters during Warped Tour.

"Our goal is to get as many brand new voters, people who have just turned 18, registered and voting."

Students weren't the only ones signing up. Dupont said she was out of the country during the last election and wasn't sure if she was still registered. She completed a registration form on the spot. "It worked out perfectly," she said.

Christina Maples, a senior business marketing major, said she was already registered to vote but came by as a fan of "Greek." "I've been obsessed since day one," she said.

Others were less enthusiastic. "My girlfriend makes me watch this show," said Rob Palu, a senior business finance and real estate land use major. "I like it too, though. It's way better than watching 'Gossip Girl'."

Kyle Sorensen, a freshman business major, registered and plans to vote for John McCain. "I just agree with him a hundred percent," Sorensen said. He planned on registering but hadn't gotten around to it, deciding to do so when he walked by the booth.

Declare Yourself partners with Myspace.com to get its message out and boost youth turnout, and is represented at both the Democratic and Republican conventions. Its web site touts endorsements from "High School Musical" star Zac Efron and celebrities from Christina Aguilera to Andre 3000. "These are very, very influential people," Fister said.

The second season of "Greek" premiered last week. Vadsaria said that as the season unfolds, it will revolve around the election for the next president of Zeta Beta Zeta, on the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University campus. Their election will unfold in tandem with the buildup to the U.S. election.

California's registration deadline for the November 4 election is October 20.

Sam Pearson can be reached at spearson@statehornet.com

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