TURLOCK — The Stanislaus State Athletics Department participated Tuesday in the first "Civic Engagement Day," promoted by the California Collegiate Athletic Association to all its members as a day for civic participation and community service.
 
The CCAA Executive Council approved a bylaw in October 2020 that allows all student-athletes the opportunity to vote annually on every national Election Day. On that day – annually set for Election Day, the first Tuesday after Nov. 1 – all CCAA student-athletes will not compete, practice or participate in any other countable athletically related activities (CARA).
 
On Tuesday, the Stanislaus State men's and women's soccer teams worked with the City of Turlock's "Adopt a Park" program. The two teams joined to adopt the Turlock Regional Sports Complex, one of the biggest sports facilities in the area with 10 soccer fields and two softball diamonds.
 
Other Stanislaus State athletics programs also used Tuesday to boost their community service time, which they already participate in year-round.
 
"Part of our civic duty as citizens is to make our voices heard by voting," reflected CCAA commissioner Mitch Cox when the bylaw was passed. "By prohibiting any and all athletic activity on election day in November, the CCAA schools are making a strong statement in support of our democracy and instilling the notion of civic responsibility in our student-athletes."
 
Along with standing unified in the desire for civic engagement on the conference level, Stanislaus State and the CCAA is aligned regionally and nationally with Division I, II and III counterparts across the collegiate athletics landscape. The measure echoes encouragement from the NCAA at-large, and also mirrors legislation that was proposed by the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and approved their Council in September 2020.