Athletes participate in Bryant Votes initiative

Smithfield, R.I – Amanda Whitham of the Bryant University track and field team, and Jordan Dagrin of the cross country team both participated in the Bryant Votes campaign during the fall semester. Bryant Votes is an initiative run by students, faculty, and staff to promote civic engagement.

Jordan and Amanda promoted the Bryant Votes campaign on social media and helped set up tabling events where students could find out information about how to vote in the 2020 election.

Once Jordan and Amanda heard the details of Bryant Votes they knew they wanted to be a part of it. 

Whitham said, "Any chance to provide an empowerment opportunity is one we are energized to act, and Bryant Votes spoke to the core mission of SAAC amplifying student voices. After the spring semester concluded, Pre-Law Advisor and Legal Studies Professor Ilisabeth Bornstein were passionate about a campus-wide initiative for Voter Education. Student Government President Ian Whitehead '21 and Vice President Nika Nguyen reached out to Jordan and me about initial ideas, and we saw the impact Bryant Votes could make for students."

Jordan wanted to do whatever he could to make this initiative a success. 

"I felt like I had a responsibility to make this initiative successful. Whether it was tabling, attending or hosting video sessions, and more", Dagrin said. "We (faculty, staff, and other student organizations) wanted to make sure that we engaged as many students as possible in this election year."

Bryant Votes allowed student-athletes to get involved in the community and let their voices be heard.

"Bryant Votes was an opportunity for student-athletes to amplify our voices into action. Only 50% of students our age actually votes, and our goal was to change that to 100%", Whitham said. "We began discussing how we can encourage conversation around absentee or mail-in ballots, attend zoom forums with local RI officials, and scan registration QR codes with Turbo Votes all over campus & on National Voter Registration day back in October".

Participating in this initiative will have a lasting impact on student-athletes and the entire Bryant athletics community.

"Personally, this experience was a fulfilling way to spark community-conversation within Athletics. From our October SAAC open meeting with our 60 Team Reps & Athletes, many were asking questions on the best resources to encourage their teammates to vote", said Whitham. "Not only does Bryant Student-Athletes push each other to their best in sport & academics, but also now in a civic manner. It was a real joy to table & talk to students from the organization's fair back in September, to our National Voter Reg. "Party Stations" with QR codes and resources, and by Zoom forums."

At Bryant, students can get involved with anything that they find interesting.

Dagrin said, "Students can get involved if they simply carry the interest to involved. We made sure to keep the involvement on an "open to public status". It can be difficult to set your focus on extra-curricular while in a crammed COVID semester, but if a student wants in on getting involved like this it is completely up to them."