What motivates young voters? Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed and a panel of special guests will examine student involvement in the political process at UW Tacoma’s “Why We Vote” event on Thurs., April 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in William W. Philip Hall, 1918 Pacific Ave. The event, sponsored by Associated Students of UW Tacoma (ASUWT), is free and open to the public. According to the Secretary of State Web site, Reed established College Civics Week in 2005 “to improve students’ understanding of elections and empower Washington’s youngest voters to make real changes in their communities and the world.” UW Tacoma is one of more than 60 college campuses statewide that will participate in this year’s Civics Week, which begins April 9. More information is online at http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/collegecivics/default.aspx .