#DeacsDecide: Registered and Ready
8/19/2020 2:46:00 PM | General, Les Johns
The Wake Forest athletic department and the Forsyth County Board of Elections hosted an event Monday with the goal of registering every student-athlete on campus.
As the nation works through the ramifications of a global pandemic while also grappling with social unrest following the death of George Floyd, student-athletes are yearning more than ever to have their voices heard.
For many that's meant being involved in protests and for others it's led to being more vocal on social media.
The next step is to take matters into their own hands at the ballot box, and Wake Forest took steps Monday to make that easier, by delivering a voter registration drive for all Demon Deacon student-athletes.
"Our student-athletes have been very vocal this year about wanting to make sure their voices are heard," said Ashley Wechter, assistant athletic director for student-athlete development. "Especially in this era of social unrest, we thought it was important to hear what they wanted. A voter initiative was toward the top of their list.
"I think our student-athletes are more vocal than ever. It's important as an administration to support them. This was something I wanted to make sure we were able to provide, especially for those student-athletes who have never had the opportunity. We're recognizing that our student-athletes are finding their voice."
Wechter works directly with the Wake Forest Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which is comprised of roughly 35 Demon Deacons, spread between all the programs on campus.
Once SAAC and Wechter determined the need, they worked with the Forsyth County Board of Elections to make it happen. COVID-19 restrictions mandated that the nearly 15 workers from the board of elections made it to campus with masks and face shields, with a pexi-glass divider for added protection.
The registration drive Monday was for the nearly 220 Wake Forest student-athletes currently on campus. There is a similar initiative for the student population slated for Sept. 22.
"Our student-athletes are the ones primarily on campus," Wechter said. "We wanted to host this event before the traditional campus got started. All of our student-athletes have gone through such strict COVID-19 protocols. We wanted to have an event just for them. We had a goal of having every student-athletes registered before school started."
Traditionally, college-aged voters are less active on Election Day than other demographics. In 2016, just 55.4 percent of 18-to-24 year olds were registered and only 43.0 percent actually voted in the presidential election.
"As student-athletes, we have a responsibility to set the example and lead by example," Wake Forest women's basketball sophomore Olivia Summiel said. "An event like this is so important to encourage others and send a message. We all need to use our voices and take action. Let's make something happen. To see it happen in our gym is so cool.
"What's going to happen in their turn will impact our generation. This is our future. Our voice does matter."
SAAC president Emilia Migliaccio (women's golf) was thrilled with how the event was executed. The goal was to register every eligible Wake Forest student-athlete, whether locally or back in their home area.
"We've been working on it with the student government and was trying to determine how best to go about it," she said. "We've been doing a lot of social justice work and realize that voting is at the forefront of that. In order to express what you want changed, you have to vote. We're really excited to see that most of our student-athletes were registered to vote, but every voice matters."
It's been important for the SAAC to create a safe space for fellow student-athletes at Wake Forest to share their thoughts and beliefs — to find their voice.
"It's always been an interest, but sometimes people are concerned about voicing their opinions," Migliaccio said. "We wanted to create a space where people can voice their opinion, and voting education does that. This is giving people the opportunity to have resources to take action.
"We wanted to make sure people were given this opportunity today, and realized it's really exciting and an honor in this country to vote."
Teams were scheduled in a staggered format to allow maximum social distancing. While the football team had a separate sign-up area in The Pit, the rest of the event took place at Budd Gym, the practice court for the women's basketball team. The Wake Forest men's basketball team was one of the first to take advantage of the registration event.
"This will be the first presidential election I'll be able to vote in," incoming grad student basketball player Ian DuBose said. "Voting is an important part of being an American citizen. Having the ability to vote is huge. Now that we're registered, we actually have to go out to the polls.
"It was very convenient to have it on campus, have everything available and have a designated time for everybody."
For many that's meant being involved in protests and for others it's led to being more vocal on social media.
The next step is to take matters into their own hands at the ballot box, and Wake Forest took steps Monday to make that easier, by delivering a voter registration drive for all Demon Deacon student-athletes.
"Our student-athletes have been very vocal this year about wanting to make sure their voices are heard," said Ashley Wechter, assistant athletic director for student-athlete development. "Especially in this era of social unrest, we thought it was important to hear what they wanted. A voter initiative was toward the top of their list.
"I think our student-athletes are more vocal than ever. It's important as an administration to support them. This was something I wanted to make sure we were able to provide, especially for those student-athletes who have never had the opportunity. We're recognizing that our student-athletes are finding their voice."
Wechter works directly with the Wake Forest Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which is comprised of roughly 35 Demon Deacons, spread between all the programs on campus.
Once SAAC and Wechter determined the need, they worked with the Forsyth County Board of Elections to make it happen. COVID-19 restrictions mandated that the nearly 15 workers from the board of elections made it to campus with masks and face shields, with a pexi-glass divider for added protection.
The registration drive Monday was for the nearly 220 Wake Forest student-athletes currently on campus. There is a similar initiative for the student population slated for Sept. 22.
"Our student-athletes are the ones primarily on campus," Wechter said. "We wanted to host this event before the traditional campus got started. All of our student-athletes have gone through such strict COVID-19 protocols. We wanted to have an event just for them. We had a goal of having every student-athletes registered before school started."
Traditionally, college-aged voters are less active on Election Day than other demographics. In 2016, just 55.4 percent of 18-to-24 year olds were registered and only 43.0 percent actually voted in the presidential election.
"As student-athletes, we have a responsibility to set the example and lead by example," Wake Forest women's basketball sophomore Olivia Summiel said. "An event like this is so important to encourage others and send a message. We all need to use our voices and take action. Let's make something happen. To see it happen in our gym is so cool.
"What's going to happen in their turn will impact our generation. This is our future. Our voice does matter."
SAAC president Emilia Migliaccio (women's golf) was thrilled with how the event was executed. The goal was to register every eligible Wake Forest student-athlete, whether locally or back in their home area.
"We've been working on it with the student government and was trying to determine how best to go about it," she said. "We've been doing a lot of social justice work and realize that voting is at the forefront of that. In order to express what you want changed, you have to vote. We're really excited to see that most of our student-athletes were registered to vote, but every voice matters."
It's been important for the SAAC to create a safe space for fellow student-athletes at Wake Forest to share their thoughts and beliefs — to find their voice.
"It's always been an interest, but sometimes people are concerned about voicing their opinions," Migliaccio said. "We wanted to create a space where people can voice their opinion, and voting education does that. This is giving people the opportunity to have resources to take action.
"We wanted to make sure people were given this opportunity today, and realized it's really exciting and an honor in this country to vote."
Teams were scheduled in a staggered format to allow maximum social distancing. While the football team had a separate sign-up area in The Pit, the rest of the event took place at Budd Gym, the practice court for the women's basketball team. The Wake Forest men's basketball team was one of the first to take advantage of the registration event.
"This will be the first presidential election I'll be able to vote in," incoming grad student basketball player Ian DuBose said. "Voting is an important part of being an American citizen. Having the ability to vote is huge. Now that we're registered, we actually have to go out to the polls.
"It was very convenient to have it on campus, have everything available and have a designated time for everybody."
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