Draw the Lines Gerrymandering Mapathon at Lebanon Valley College

The event will engage students and Central PA voters in a night of civic engagement and mapping.

Annville, PA (09/23/2019) — Dr. Chris Dolan, LVC co-chair of social sciences and professor of politics & global studies, and Dr. Michael Schroeder, LVC associate professor of history, have worked with a local Draw the Lines team to organize a redistricting mapathon at the College. The civic engagement activity will be Thursday, September 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Zimmerman Recital Hall of the Suzanne H. Arnold Gallery. You can register here.

Students and community members are invited to learn how redistricting and gerrymandering impact all Pennsylvanians, and to make their voice heard about how they want Pennsylvania's congressional districts to be mapped. Pennsylvania Senator Mike Folmer will attend.

Teams of two-to-five members will develop their mapping criteria, draw a new map of Pennsylvania's congressional districts, and explain their reasoning. Teams will be encouraged to mix members of different political parties and other affiliations so that a robust dialogue occurs. Participants will use the free DistrictBuilder software program with the winners moving on to compete for a cash prize from Draw the Lines and to attend a reception at the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

Participants are invited to visit the Draw the Lines website to try out the mapping program and learn more. Draw the Lines is funded by the Committee of Seventy and supported by FairDistricts PA, a non-partisan statewide coalition of organizations and individuals working to create a process for redistricting that is transparent, impartial, and fair.