DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University Department of Athletics and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) have initiated the E.A.G.L.E.S. (Educated Actions Generate Lifelong Empowerment & Success) Vote initiative to help students, faculty, staff and alumni get registered to vote and continue to be engaged heading into the 2020 election in November.
 
"On campus we are creating programming that focuses on education, registration and voter rights," said NCCU SAAC President and senior volleyball student-athlete Christine Alcox.
 
With a goal to have all student-athletes registered to vote before the election, the E.A.G.L.E.S. Vote initiative will include a few key programs, including Power of the Vote: Student-Athlete (open to the public on Sept. 15  from 7-8 p.m.); Promoting National Voter Registration Day (Sept. 22); Bout that Action: The History of Student Activism (Oct. 20 from 10:40-11:35 a.m.); and with March to the Polls events to encourage early voting (Oct. 16) and on election day for those that cannot cast their ballots early (Nov. 3).
 
The NCCU SAAC has partnered with Secure the Ballot, a non-partisan organization investing in young people – especially young people of color – by organizing in high schools, colleges, universities and rural communities to empower a new generation of voters. Secure the Ballot is helping provide resources to make voting more accessible and understandable, including voter registration and absentee ballots for those in rural and minority communities.
 
"It is extremely important that our students embrace their civic responsibilities, and the 'E.A.G.L.E.S. Vote initiative' is one way they can provide leadership in one of the most important rights we all have as citizens," said NCCU Director of Athletics Ingrid Wicker McCree. "I am proud that they have taken this opportunity to show their leadership, not only among their student-athlete peers, but to all students on our campus."
 
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is working with the NCCU Civic Engagement Working Group to help support the university's effort to get students registered and out to vote during this election, with Election Day scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
 
"This initiative is important because this election is important," said Alcox. "It's important that we get out and vote because it's crucial that we have proper representation in our government."
 
NCCU students, faculty, staff and alumni can register to vote, request an absentee ballot and verity their registration at securetheballot.org/nccu. 
 
"Voting is a right that we should all exercise and with our voting initiative we're making it more accessible to all of us so we can exercise our rights," said Alcox.
 
NCCU E.A.G.L.E.S. Vote initiative upcoming events:
-Tuesday, Sept. 15 (7-8 p.m.): Power of the Vote: Student-Athlete (panel open to the public. Webinar Registration). 
-Tuesday, Sept. 22: National Voter Registration Day
-Friday, Oct. 16: March to the Polls (to encourage early voting)
-Tuesday, Oct. 20 (10:40-11:35 a.m.): Bout that Action: The History of Student Activism
-Tuesday, Nov. 3: March to the Polls (Election Day)