September 19: Jim Rex to Address Students on Civic Engagement, Voting

Columbia College will welcome Dr. Jim Rex, former South Carolina Superintendent of Education and past president of Columbia College, in support of the College's Civic Engagement Initiative on Wednesday, September 19, at 2:00 p.m. in the Cottingham Theatre.

Rex will speak to the student body about the importance of being actively engaged in the political process. Just weeks away from the November 6 election, Rex is eager to remind eligible students that even if they are away from home during the election, they can still register in time and cast an absentee ballot. "For most college students, November 6 will be their first opportunity to vote in a national election. Together, they have a powerful voice and an important stake in the outcome," says Rex. The goal of the Civic Engagement Initiative is to get every eligible person on campus registered, informed, and ready to vote by November 6.

Volunteers from the League of Women Voters will also be at the event to assist with voter registration and to answer questions about voter eligibility and procedures. Students who register to vote will receive t-shirts with the distinctive "Women Rocking the Vote" design. The Civic Engagement Initiative will continue until Election Day with a series of voter registration opportunities and activities such as campus gatherings to view the upcoming presidential and vice presidential debates. On September 27, Jose Tapia of MTV's "The Real World" will visit to promote voter registration.

The Civic Engagement Initiative is sponsored by Student Activities, the History, Political Science, and Communication programs, the Office of Public Relations, and the Center for Engaged Learning. Lean more about Columbia College students' involvement with the national political scene and related activities at www.columbiasc.edu.