Photo by: Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics
Oregon State Student-Athletes Prepared To Vote
October 22, 2020 | General
Through a collaborative effort from Oregon State's President to coaches to staff members and student leaders, more than 99% of Beaver student-athletes are registered to vote for the November election.
"Being a student-athlete here, I have found that exercising my right to vote has been an extremely important part of our athletic department," Beaver women's soccer student-athlete Maddy Ellsworth said. "Through workshops, forums and meetings, our athletic department has committed to teaching us that we are more than athletes and we need to exercise our voice and right to vote. I am proud to say that the student-athletes here do not want their voice to go unheard and over 99% of student-athletes are registered to vote."
In mid-September the NCAA announced that every Division I program will give its student-athletes the day off from practices or competitions on Election Day beginning this year.
Oregon State's participation in facilitating voter registration also aligns with the Pac-12's collective commitment among all member athletics programs to facilitate registration and acquisition of mail-in ballots.
"Our student-athletes continue to serve as an inspiration," Beaver Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes said. "To see these young men and women register in these kinds of numbers, some of them for the first time, is truly impressive. Oregon State University is excited to support our student-athletes involving themselves in the political process and their commitment to having their voices heard."
Oregon State President F. King Alexander signed the Presidents' Commitment through the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. The challenge includes three steps: 1: Register to vote; 2. Take the pledge and make a plan; 3. Prepare your ballot.
Every Oregon State head coach spent time with their student-athletes in team meetings to support their efforts in registering to vote and the process it takes to make it happen.
Oregon State men's basketball assistant coach Marlon Stewart was part of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches Voter Education Task Force.
He also spent time speaking to members of the Oregon State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Dam Change, while also working with other sports program at Oregon State on voter education.
"A group of us college basketball coaches from around the country got together and felt the duty to better serve the college basketball community by partnering with ALL IN Democracy Challenge with the idea of getting every Division I basketball player registered and to vote," Stewart said. "As I found out President F. King Alexander had signed the Presidents' Commitment through the same organization and our student-athletes were so active in the voting space, I felt an immense sense of pride to be a Beaver. It really ignited my passion level to make sure I did my part in helping everyone in the department perform their civic duty."
Alexis Serna, Oregon State's Director of Beyond Football, spearheaded the efforts to get every eligible Beaver football student-athlete registered for the November election.
Serna was a four-year letterman for the Oregon State football team from 2004 to 2007. He was the recipient of the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker in 2005.
"As a staff member, I'm excited we were able to get this done," Serna said. "As a Beaver athlete alum, I'm proud that Oregon State stepped up and made it a priority."
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
"Being a student-athlete here, I have found that exercising my right to vote has been an extremely important part of our athletic department," Beaver women's soccer student-athlete Maddy Ellsworth said. "Through workshops, forums and meetings, our athletic department has committed to teaching us that we are more than athletes and we need to exercise our voice and right to vote. I am proud to say that the student-athletes here do not want their voice to go unheard and over 99% of student-athletes are registered to vote."
In mid-September the NCAA announced that every Division I program will give its student-athletes the day off from practices or competitions on Election Day beginning this year.
Oregon State's participation in facilitating voter registration also aligns with the Pac-12's collective commitment among all member athletics programs to facilitate registration and acquisition of mail-in ballots.
"Our student-athletes continue to serve as an inspiration," Beaver Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes said. "To see these young men and women register in these kinds of numbers, some of them for the first time, is truly impressive. Oregon State University is excited to support our student-athletes involving themselves in the political process and their commitment to having their voices heard."
Oregon State President F. King Alexander signed the Presidents' Commitment through the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. The challenge includes three steps: 1: Register to vote; 2. Take the pledge and make a plan; 3. Prepare your ballot.
Every Oregon State head coach spent time with their student-athletes in team meetings to support their efforts in registering to vote and the process it takes to make it happen.
Oregon State men's basketball assistant coach Marlon Stewart was part of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches Voter Education Task Force.
He also spent time speaking to members of the Oregon State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Dam Change, while also working with other sports program at Oregon State on voter education.
"A group of us college basketball coaches from around the country got together and felt the duty to better serve the college basketball community by partnering with ALL IN Democracy Challenge with the idea of getting every Division I basketball player registered and to vote," Stewart said. "As I found out President F. King Alexander had signed the Presidents' Commitment through the same organization and our student-athletes were so active in the voting space, I felt an immense sense of pride to be a Beaver. It really ignited my passion level to make sure I did my part in helping everyone in the department perform their civic duty."
Alexis Serna, Oregon State's Director of Beyond Football, spearheaded the efforts to get every eligible Beaver football student-athlete registered for the November election.
Serna was a four-year letterman for the Oregon State football team from 2004 to 2007. He was the recipient of the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker in 2005.
"As a staff member, I'm excited we were able to get this done," Serna said. "As a Beaver athlete alum, I'm proud that Oregon State stepped up and made it a priority."
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
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