San José State University Athletics Makes 2020 Election Day Commitment

San Jose, Calif.----- On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, San Jose State University student-athletes, coaches and staff can focus on the general election and the opportunity to cast their votes.
 
Any proposed intercollegiate athletics contest or mandatory team meetings and/or practices will be rescheduled maximizing opportunities to participate in Election Day 2020 locally, regionally, state-wide, and nationally.

"...WE HAVE THIS PLATFORM"
 
Discussed during summer 2020 Mountain West Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meetings and emails, San Jose State University representatives Bella Bowers from the women's soccer team and Caleb Simmons from men's basketball embrace and endorse voting privileges as a citizen's right and freedom of choice.
 
"With all the social injustices we're dealing with and the relevant politics of the last few months, it was a proposal and discussed with our own school SAAC, we are going to get the November 3 date to vote," says Bowers, a senior majoring in chemical engineering.
 
"This announcement now will give athletes the opportunity to register to vote. Having no (athletics) activity that day, we are encouraging the athletes to vote on November 3. As an athlete, we have this platform. If we're getting athletes to vote, we're hoping they are encouraging their friends and their family to also go out and vote," the two-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree adds.
 
"By doing this and emphasizing the importance of voting, we are allowing student-athletes to exercise their right as a citizen. This is important not only to you, and the community, but beyond that. We are hoping to get more people out there and athletes speaking up for what they believe in.
 
"You have the opportunity (to vote) and it is right in front of you," concludes Bowers.
 
Today's announcement coincides with the 100th anniversary date ratifying the United States Constitution's 19th Amendment, best known as a woman's right to vote.

"...ANOTHER SMALL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION"
 
For Simmons, a redshirt junior majoring in kinesiology with an exercise science minor, voting starts with registering to vote, which he describes as a fairly simple process. He views politics as part of daily life. His logical extension is to get involved and use his voice.
 
"This is another small step in the right direction. I call it an 'onion.' There are so many layers, so many issues at hand have been pushed to the back seat or ignored in the past," says Simmons, also a member of SJSpeaksUp: Student-Athletes for Social Justice (SA4SJ) and the national group Athletes4CHNGES, which fund-raised close to $80,000 to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
 
 "2020 has been one of the craziest years in American history. There have been so many changes for better and for worse. It matters what we do for the present and the future. It's bigger than the here and now. It's setting a precedent, setting the rules and regulations for what will transpire over the course of history.
 
"It matters (to me) to make the future better, to change the community I am around for the better, not only in San Jose, but in California, and, maybe, even in America," Simmons states.

"A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY"
 
In a typical fall semester during the first week in November, many of San Jose State University's 22 NCAA Division I intercollegiate programs would be either in-season or prepare for post-season opportunities. These teams include men's basketball, women's basketball, men's cross country, women's cross country, football, women's golf, men's golf, women's soccer, men's soccer, women's swimming and diving, women's tennis, women's volleyball, and men's water polo.
 
"As a department, we will use this day as a 'call to action' in which everyone of legal voting age can make an impact either close to our university, close to home, in our state and in our country through the right to vote. This is a civic opportunity, a privilege, and a responsibility to be taken seriously," says San Jose State University Athletics Director Marie Tuite.
 
"Whether it is a vote in person, an absentee ballot or vote by mail, we want to provide our student-athletes, coaches and staff with information on registering to vote and the process to vote for the candidates and measures of their choice and have their voices heard."