‘Smackdown Your Vote!’ coming to campus Sept.
30
…………………………………………………………………

The Rice Vote
Coalition is bringing no-holds-barred excitement to campus
Sept. 30 with the “Smackdown Your Vote! Pledge To Participate
Tour,” a celebration of country, community, freedom
and democracy.

World Wrestling
Entertainment (WWE) stars Stacy Keibler and Spike Dudley
will be at Hamman Hall at 11 a.m. to challenge Rice students,
staff and faculty to pledge to participate in their communities
and government. Owls also will have a chance to sign a replica
of the U.S. Constitution, joining more than 60,000 people
across the country who have reaffirmed their commitment
to democracy by doing so since the tour began in late August.
And perhaps most important, Rice community members will
be able to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election, a great
opportunity to attend to this task before the Oct. 7 deadline
to register.

“Smackdown
Your Vote!” is an initiative created by WWE to encourage
all eligible Americans to register to vote and to “smackdown”
their votes on election day. More than 200,000 voters have
registered through “Smackdown Your Vote!” since
its inception in 2000.

Owls are reminded,
however, that should they miss out on this event, voter
registration cards are available at several locations on
campus:

• Welcome
Center, Lovett Hall
Entrance B
• Residential colleges
• Graduate Apartments
• Ley Student Center Info Desk
• Fondren Library

Voters also can
register by calling the Harris County Voter’s Registration
Office at (713) 368-2200 or visiting the Secretary of State’s
Web site, <www.sos.state.tx.us/elections>.

With the recent redistricting shaking up boundaries of many
Harris County election districts, 2002 is going to be a
particularly important political season. Many long-serving
politicians are running for new offices, and many new candidates
are entering the field, making the upcoming elections especially
crucial. To obtain a list of candidates in Rice’s district,
call the Harris County Election Department at (713) 755-5792
or visit <www.cclerk.hctx.net/elect.htm>.
For more information on how to register to vote, important
dates or other election information, visit the Rice Vote
Coalition Web site, <http://vote.rice.edu>.