Tuesday, October 13, 2020

PORTLAND, Ore. – The 2020 GNAC SAAC retreat continued on Sunday with the topic of civic engagement.

Sharon Henderson, a program analyst with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, joined the video conference to talk about civic engagement, voting and knowing one's duty to get involved.

Henderson said that the most important thing to remember when discussing civic engagement is to understand what matters and what will help society work toward a positive future. Anyone can get involved at any time and any level of authority. Since SAAC members are leaders on campus, they have a chance to guide other student-athletes toward the future.

The SAAC members talked about what they are doing on campus to promote civic engagement, especially during an election year. One initiative that was discussed was setting up tables in areas on campus that are commonly traveled to ask students, faculty and staff if they are registered to vote. Another idea was to create a website that would provide information on political candidates so people can figure out who they may want to vote for.

The retreat's fourth session will be on Sunday, Oct. 18, as there will be a guest appearance by Ivy Watts, a former Division II track and field athlete who uses personal experiences to help people with mental health through public speaking and her blog, Beautifully Simply You.