Media Appearances
Testimony
2021 Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission
I testified on behalf of the Campus Vote Project, Fair Elections Center, and the W&J College Student Voting Coalition to encourage the Pennsylvania Redistricting Commission to keep college campuses in one district so as not to make it more challenging for college students to know where they need to vote and for students attempting to increase student voter engagement. There was an increase from the final 2012 maps to the final 2022 map for colleges and universities within one district by 2.90%. While 35 of the 241 universities were still split across the Commonwealth, we saw 7 universities no longer be split compared to the 2012 districts. This change saw almost 53,000 more students no longer divided into multiple PA House districts.
My Articles
Note to the Reader:
These articles and quotes reflect my thoughts on public policy, civic engagement, and democracy. I write and work to help people better understand the systems we live in and the decisions that shape our lives. Some topics are complex and come with nuance and exceptions. They may challenge assumptions or beliefs, and that’s part of why they matter. I approach each issue with care, evidence, and a focus on public impact rather than political spin. I believe disagreement is a normal part of a healthy democracy, and I welcome different points of view as long as the conversation stays grounded in good faith.
Double Standard of Asylum on Display with Ukrainian Migration Response
Published in the Red & Black, March 29, 2023
This article explores how racial and cultural bias shapes global responses to refugee crises, focusing on the differences in how Ukrainian and African or Central American asylum seekers have been treated. I examine media framing, policy disparities, and first-hand examples of unequal treatment at both the U.S. southern border and across Europe. The piece also highlights how double standards in refugee acceptance are rooted in a long history of exclusionary practices and public perception shaped by race and geography.
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Former Brazilian President Plans to Return Home for Insurrection Investigation
Published in the Red & Black, February 26, 2023
This article analyzes the parallels between the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and the January 8th attacks on Brazil’s government buildings by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. I examine Bolsonaro’s pattern of authoritarian rhetoric, attempts to undermine Brazil’s electoral process, and the international implications of his post-election actions. The piece also looks at the U.S. response to his presence in Florida and the broader lessons for protecting democracy worldwide.
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2023 Symposium on Democracy Garners Wide Turnout and Spreads Message of Hope
Published in the Red & Black, February 24, 2023
This article covers W&J College’s 2023 Symposium on Democracy, which brought together students, faculty, and national speakers for a day of civic dialogue. I reported on the event’s breakout sessions exploring justice, equity, misinformation, and keynotes from former Representative Adam Kinzinger and author Paul Loeb. The article highlights student-led contributions, personal reflections on identity and inclusion, and how democratic engagement on campus can thrive when students help shape the conversation.
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Gen Z Sets Records in Historical 2022 Midterm Elections
Published in the Red & Black, December 1, 2022
This article highlights Generation Z's bipartisan engagement in the 2022 midterm elections. I examine how young people ran for office, organized across ideological lines, and turned out to vote at unprecedented levels, signaling a generational shift in civic participation.
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Fact vs. Fiction About Election Day 2022
Published in the Red & Black, November 6, 2022
This article dispels common myths about Pennsylvania's voting procedures ahead of the 2022 midterms. Written in collaboration with the W&J Student Voting Coalition, it provides students with clear, nonpartisan information on voter ID laws, mail-in ballot deadlines, polling hours, and election security, making the process less intimidating and more accessible.
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The Imaginary Man Behind the Curtain: Why Trying to Find "An Authentic Experience" as a Tourist Will Likely Leave You Disappointed
Published by the W&J Sustainability Committee, April 22, 2021
This article explores the harm behind the tourist search for “authenticity” and how it often reduces cultures and communities to a curated performance. I argue that true authenticity can’t be compressed into a few days; it’s lived day-to-day. By chasing a singular “real” experience, tourists risk simplifying or ignoring the complexities and identities of the people they visit. Instead, the only authentic experience is their own as they visit a new place.
Quoted Articles
W&J students take research on the road; showcase their findings at academic conferences​
Published on Washington & Jefferson College's Website, 4/14/2022
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​"Bartel’s presentation, 'International Voting Trends Among Generation Z,' discussed factors influencing voter turnout in Generation Z, and revealed that age and encouragement most strongly influence how frequently a young person will vote. “With graduate school being on the horizon,” Bartel said, “I am confident that, thanks to my research studies class and my experiences in preparation for this conference, I will be better prepared to take on graduate research.”
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W&J Students Turn Out for Elections at Higher Than Average Rates
Published on Washington & Jefferson College's Website, 11/18/2021
​"According to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE)’s 2020 Campus Report, 73.7% of all eligible Washington & Jefferson College students (otherwise known as The Presidents) voted in the 2020 general election, while only 66% of students at all other institutions turned out to the ballot box. Mirroring a nationwide surge in voter turnout, that percentage jumped 17.7% from 2016—nearly 5% more than it did for other institutions, which delighted W&J’s politically engaged students...Nickolas Bartel, a junior political science, environmental studies, and Spanish triple major, and the president of the Student Voting Coalition, said the push to vote went beyond any individual. 'We have a very close community [at W&J]…, and it sort of creates a voting culture,' he said, noting that voter registration is now included in first-year orientation and that the college hosts and annual Symposium on Democracy. 'The school already has this on their mind.'"
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W&J Junior testifies to state congressional commission about college campuses and voting districts
"Though voters cast their ballots just days ago, Junior Nickolas Bartel had them in mind back in August, when he spoke to Pennsylvania Congressional leaders about student election participation. Bartel’s testimony resulted from a fellowship with the Campus Vote Project—an ongoing effort by the Fair Elections Center to reduce barriers to student voting, and something Bartel learned about through W&J’s Student Government Association and the Western Pennsylvania Voting Summit. A Spanish, Environmental Studies, and Political Science triple major, Bartel was a natural fit for the project and started the W&J Student Voting Coalition to get involved. After months of work, Pennsylvania State Coordinator Chuck Black persuaded Bartel to testify to the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission about re-drawing district lines on college campuses. “After speaking with students from around the state, there is a clear and present need for this commission to ensure that colleges, technical schools, and other higher education centers are not broken up into multiple districts, as they are a vital community of interest,” Bartel said in his testimony to the commission on August 3..."
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Published on Washington & Jefferson College's Website, 11/16/2021
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W&J students earn voter turnout grant, selected as Campus Vote Democracy Fellows
​"The 2020 presidential election is just one of the stories that’s dominated the news cycle this year and W&J students have been paying attention to its importance. But it’s not a candidate they’re focused on; it’s the importance of voting itself – and they decided to do something about it. Members of the Student Voting Coalition have spent much of the fall semester organizing non-partisan events to encourage their peers to get registered and get out to vote. In October, the group hosted a Student Voter Forum featuring student speakers from across the political spectrum talking about the issues facing college students today. In their push for voter awareness, the organization teamed up with national organization Campus Vote Project, securing a $1,000 grant to fund voter turnout and education initiatives on campus. “I got connected with the Campus Vote Project when I attended the PA Student Voting Summit that was put on at the University of Pittsburgh this past February. At this summit, they were reaching out for students to apply as a Democracy Fellow. After that, over this summer, we started to develop the W&J Student Voting Coalition into what it is today,” said W&J Student Voting Coalition President Nickolas Bartel."
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Published on Washington & Jefferson College's Website, 11/5/2020
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​Youth vote could be a factor in 2020 presidential election
"The tenor of the debate has been contentious throughout this election season. Throughout it, Nickolas Campbell Bartel, a sophomore at Washington & Jefferson College, has been leading the nonpartisan Student Voting Coalition, which seeks to promote involvement in the political process. He acknowledged that the election season has been stressful, but that the coalition has tried to foster civility on campus. 'There is a desire, at least at W&J, to work across the aisle,' Campbell Bartel said. Among the issues that have been driving discussion at W&J are LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, protecting the environment and immigration policy, particularly since W&J has some foreign students in its ranks. 'There’s a lot of support for our international students on campus,' Campbell Bartel said..."
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Published in the Observer-Reporter, 10/31/2020
Podcasts- SVNCast
I co-produced and co-hosted episodes of SVNCast, a podcast from the Student Voting Network, part of the Campus Vote Project under the Fair Elections Center. This series explores voting rights, policy, and civic engagement through the voices of student leaders and policy advocates.Each episode dives into topics that impact young voters and features students working to strengthen democracy on their campuses and in their communities.
🎧Featured Episodes🎧
In Defense of Pennsylvania's Act 77
Produced by: Nickolas Bartel and Benjamin Nixon
Release Date: September 2021
This episode focuses on Pennsylvania’s landmark Act 77 legislation, which expanded mail-in voting and modernized voter access across the state. I moderated a discussion with student organizers from Swarthmore College about how the policy impacted their campus, what implementation looked like on the ground, and why secure, accessible elections are not only possible but necessary. We also discussed how administrative support can make or break student voter engagement efforts.
Pennsylvania's Resiliency to the Big Lie, QAnon, and Other Nonsense
Produced by Nickolas Bartel and Benjamin Nixon
Release Date: September 2021
In this episode, I’m joined by Campus Vote Project Student Advisory Board Chair Benjamin Nixon to discuss how misinformation, conspiracy theories, and election denialism took root in Pennsylvania and what student organizers have done to counter them. We unpack the long-term impact of these narratives on trust in democracy and how civic leaders can respond with integrity and clarity.
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Everybody And Their Mother vs. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Boockvar
Produced by: Nickolas Bartel and Benjamin Nixon
Release Date: January 2022
This episode unpacks the historical court cases that challenged Pennsylvania’s mail-in and absentee voting process during the 2020 election. We dig into outdated legal precedents like Chase v. Miller (1862), explore how misinformation spreads in echo chambers, and highlight the importance of turning to trusted sources over conspiracy-driven media. It’s a deep dive into legal mythbusting and why facts still matter in election law.
The Future of Western Civilization Depends on PA
Produced by: Nickolas Bartel and Benjamin Nixon
In this episode, Sarah Harmon joins Benjamin Nixon and me for a wide-ranging discussion on election legislation, voter access, and policy reform in Pennsylvania. We discuss proposals to expand voting rights, improve election infrastructure, and fight misinformation. And yes, there’s a moment where I channel my inner forensic document analyst if you want to learn more about secure and accessible elections.
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The Future of Western Civilization *REALLY* Depends on PA
Produced by: Nickolas Bartel and Benjamin Nixon
Release Date: March 2022
In this episode, I moderate a wide-ranging policy discussion with Sarah Harmon, Benjamin Nixon, and India Krug on the future of voting in Pennsylvania. Topics include lowering the voting age to 16, making Election Day a federal holiday, election security, Act 77, and international voter turnout trends. We aimed to create a space for multiple perspectives and extended invitations to student leaders across the political spectrum. While some declined to participate, the conversation remained focused on policy ideas and civic inclusion.