All NCAA Schools Should Follow Georgia Tech's Lead and Make it a Priority For Student-Athletes to Vote
By Stephen Douglas | Jun 4, 2020, 11:57 AM EDT
Election Day should be a national holiday so that everyone has an opportunity to vote. Until it is, it is up to individual businesses and institutions to ensure that their people are able to vote. For college athletes that might have classes and practice or even games in early November, it might be difficult. That's why it's great that Georgia Tech's sports teams have committed to not holding mandatory activities on Election Day.
Nine in-season @GTAthletics teams have committed to not hold mandatory athletic activities on Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 – to encourage student-athletes and staff members to exercise their right to vote.#TogetherWeSwarm https://t.co/fXsAjSZ7cu
— Georgia Tech Sports (@GTAthletics) June 4, 2020
In addition to the men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, volleyball, men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s indoor track and field and women’s indoor track and field teams getting the day off, the women's swimming and diving team is working to reschedule an event.
Men's basketball assistant Eric Reveno suggested that the NCAA make it a mandatory day off, which would be a good start.
Federal election day, Nov 3rd, needs to be a NCAA mandatory off day. We must empower, educate and guide our athletes to be part of the change. We need action. There is symbolism in every holiday and it's powerful. @GeorgiaTech @GTAthletics @accmbb @ncaa @CabreraAngel
— Eric Reveno (@CoachReveno) June 3, 2020
People want to separate sports and politics? Let's make it official. Hopefully, more schools follow Georgia Tech's lead here and as many young people as possible are able to get out and vote.