SEATTLE – Seattle University Athletics announced the launch of its Voting Matters initiative geared towards voter education, voter registration and voter participation among Redhawk student-athletes.
"This is an important initiative for Redhawk Athletics and one of many sustainable actions that will roll out in the coming months as we highlight the importance of civic engagement and support the Black Lives Matters movement," Director of Athletics Shaney Fink said. "This initiative is a reflection of Seattle U's mission to empower leaders for a just and humane world."
Developed and driven by a team of student-athletes, coaches and staff, the program has phases, beginning with voting education opportunities for all student-athletes.
Following that will be efforts to ensure that every qualified student-athlete at Seattle U has an opportunity to register to vote, and ultimately, to encourage informed voter participation, beginning with the November 2020 elections.
"I come from a country where voting is mandatory," said women's basketball redshirt junior Georgia Kehoe, who is from Brisbane, Australia. "I believe what that does, from a young age, is to educate people to own the responsibility to have a voice and an impact not just on their own country, but on the way the global community will develop. The reason I wanted to be involved with this voting matters initiative is to educate people and help them realize that without a vote, you don't have a voice."
The athletic department will also partner with campus organizations and student leadership to help educate Redhawk student-athletes on the importance of civic responsibility.
"I chose to be a part of Seattle U's Voting Matters initiative because I want to help educate others my age and younger about the importance of voting," said women's rowing junior Bella Marez. "And how important it is to change a broken system and make a better one in light of our social climate."
GENERAL RESOURCES
- Not sure if you're registered? Visit Vote.org.
- Dive into the background of every candidate and referendum on your personal ballot by signing up for ballotready.org.
WASHINGTON STATE RESOURCES