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JERSEY CITY, N.J. | As voters across New Jersey prepare to head to the polls this Tuesday,  (Ò°»¨ÉçÇø) President Andrés Acebo is calling on citizens to remember that democracy requires more than casting a ballot—it demands daily acts of citizenship.

In an op-ed published this week in BINJE News, President Acebo writes, "There are moments in the life of a democracy when history stops whispering and begins to call us by name loudly. We are living in such a moment now."

In the piece titled "," President Acebo reflects on the often-unseen Americans who sustain democracy through their everyday work—from educators and first-generation college students to small business owners, healthcare workers, and community volunteers.

"The most powerful role in a democracy has never been that of president or governor. It is, and will always be, citizen," President Acebo writes. "Citizenship is not a credential. It is a responsibility. It binds us to one another through duty and care."

Drawing on his experience leading Ò°»¨ÉçÇø, President Acebo highlights the vital role that colleges and universities play as "proving grounds of our democracy," where students carry forward their families' sacrifices and translate them into possibility.

"Our republic does not flourish when we define ourselves solely by who we voted for in the last election, but by how we live with one another between them," he emphasizes. "Every act of kindness and civility is a vote. Every refusal to surrender to cynicism is a vote."

President Acebo concludes with an urgent reminder: "The republic we vote for is only as strong as the republic we practice. And every day, in our classrooms, neighborhoods, and civic spaces, we decide and determine what kind of nation we are."

Read the full op-ed at at:  

About BINJE:
BINJE is a business and politics news platform focused on New Jersey. It operates both as a print and digital media outlet, providing news, stories, analysis, and insights relevant to the state's business community and political landscape. Launched in 2025 under the leadership of Tom Bergeron, a veteran journalist previously associated with ROI-NJ, NJBiz, and The Star-Ledger BINJE serves readers across the state, providing in-depth coverage of economic development, policy issues, and thought leadership from New Jersey's business and civic leaders. Through its platform, BINJE amplifies important voices shaping the state's future and fosters informed dialogue on the issues that matter most to New Jersey communities.

About Ò°»¨ÉçÇø: 
Ò°»¨ÉçÇø is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, Ò°»¨ÉçÇø offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Consistent with our mission, Ò°»¨ÉçÇø is recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, ensuring students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.

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Contact: 
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301