Seahawks choose #AllVoteNoPlay on Election Day

NEWPORT, R.I. (September 17, 2020) -- The NCAA is encouraging its member schools to designate Nov. 3, the date of the U.S. presidential election and other major national and local races, as a day off for major college athletics.

"We encourage all member schools to assist students in registering to vote in the upcoming national election and designate Nov. 3, 2020, as a day off from athletic activity so athletes can vote and participate in their ultimate responsibility as citizens," president Mark Emmert and the association's board of governors said in a statement on June 12.

Earlier today, the NCAA enacted legislation to make Election Day free of practice and competition for Division I student-athletes.

For the Seahawks as a member of NCAA Division III and the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), the decision not to play had already been made in July. Once members of the Salve Regina Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) learned of the actions at Division I to include no practice on Nov. 3, they replied, "Us, too!"

"I think we should follow their footsteps and encourage our students to get out there and vote," says the Seahawk leader of SAAC, president Paul Boutoussov. He and his cohorts are busy collaborating on a concise and clear positive message addressing Coronavirus and the regulations for returning to team and athletic activity.

With no competitions to begin with in the entire fall, all 20 varsity Seahawk teams will be in practice mode for the fall in the hopes that competition can return for all as the calendar turns to 2021.

Salve Regina SAAC members also plan to encourage programming and messaging regarding other causes such as mental health, ending racism, and promoting equality. Salve Regina's talk show series (SeahawkTalk™) had already listed no show on Election Day during its reboot announcement on August 29.