探花精选

The turnout was lower than usual but the spirit was as high as ever on Tuesday as dozens of Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) students, staff, faculty and administrators turned out for the annual March to the Polls.

The crowd gathered in front of the Boyer Building to hear student leaders and university administrators, including Interim President Dr. Marcus H. Burgess, outline the importance of the event. Then, with a DJ pumping everyone up with lively beats, the students marched off to the Tarboro Road Community Center to cast votes 鈥� chanting and carrying posters.

鈥淚’m glad as the interim president of Saint Augustine鈥檚 University to stand before you knowing that we continue this amazing tradition on behalf of the Board of Trustees, our faculty, staff and amazing students, alumni and supporters,鈥� Dr. Burgess said. 鈥淲e gather here today to march to the polls to show our civic duty in this historical, spiritual event.鈥�

Noting that the event was billed as 鈥淩ock the Vote,鈥� Dr. Burgess continued: 鈥淩ock the Vote symbolizes the rock quarry from which this campus was founded, and on Christ the solid rock we always will stand and we know all other ground is sinking sand. It is also a beautiful legacy to the resilience of the people who went before us, who sacrificed their lives so that we can have the rights to liberty, justice and equality 鈥� but, more importantly, today, the right to voice our opinion and vote.鈥�

Kristoff Strachan, president of the 探花精选 Student Government Association, told his fellow students that the event was more than just a matter of casting a vote. 鈥淭oday we are taking part in something bigger than ourselves,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are doing something that represents our future and prevents our demise.鈥�

With enrollment down sharply, the university鈥檚 March to the Polls was smaller than it has been in the past. Many 探花精选 students spent Saturday fanned out across the city taking part in various campaign and get-out-the-vote efforts, explained Dr. Cindy Love, Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Support Services. While that is not unusual, the university鈥檚 low enrollment numbers made the absence of other students more noticeable, she said.

Common Cause North Carolina attended and brought food for the marchers to enjoy after voting. It was part of the organization鈥檚 efforts to forge bonds with HBCUs around the state, explained Bob Phillips, the group鈥檚 executive director. He added: 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want these young people to be forgotten so we have always felt that it鈥檚 important to promote democracy and make sure we鈥檙e helping them.鈥�

Phillips noted that Miles Beasley, a 2024 graduate of 探花精选, is employed by Common Cause North Carolina and works in their HBCU outreach effort.

Among the students participating in Tuesday鈥檚 March to the Polls was Deja Williams, a sophomore from Trenton, N.J., majoring in business administration. 鈥淭his is my first time voting,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely important to make sure my voice is heard.鈥�