Dr. Brendan Stern, ’05, an associate professor in the Government and Public Affairs program and executive director of the Center for Democracy in Deaf America, has been presenting on the 2024 presidential election to local Deaf communities throughout the United States.

In collaboration with the Office of Alumni Relations, Stern presented a community workshop at the NorCal (Northern California) chapter of the privateAlumni Association (GUAA) in mid-September. He was in Austin, Texas September 20, presenting to the Austin GUAA chapter. His visits to GUAA chapters in north and central Florida, originally scheduled for the weekend of September 27-28, are being rescheduled.

On campus, CDDA and SignVote are working closely with the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership (SEL), a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. SEL has committed both human and fiscal resources to registering students to vote and co-hosting and/or coordinating an election education schedule consisting of more than 20 events across multiple campus units. A sampling:

— During New Student Orientation in late August, there were voter registration booths at the evening events held Wednesday through Friday. Approximately 100 students, mostly new freshmen and transfers, registered to vote.

— The Athletic Department, also a unit of Student Affairs, has made a concerted effort to register student-athletes. Each student-athlete and Athletics staff member received shirts with VOTE, VOTE, VOTE, and voter registration booths were set up at the women’s volleyball season opener on September 11 and the first home football game on September 14. Election education has been provided at several other sporting events.

— There was also an election season launch party, as well as a booth at the annual BisonFest event held during the first week of school.

— Stern was joined by Diego Ozuna-Clark from for the pre-presidential debate discussion on September 10. About 250 people attended the discussion and watch party. Ozuna-Clark participated in eight other well-attended election education events during their five-day visit, which were arranged and funded by the Office of Multicultural Student Programs.

— On October 1, CDDA will join the SEL team’s discussion and watch party for the vice presidential debate at 9 p.m. in the Rathskellar. Large television monitors will show both the debate telecast and the ASL-interpreted broadcast by .

— Also ahead are CDDA’s fifth annual Stories Speeches in Sign event, panel discussions, and a booth at Homecoming.

— The final, largest event will be a watch party and discussion on Election Night, November 5. 

For additional information about all on-campus SignVote events, follow @GallaudetU.CampusLife and @SignVote on social media. Most importantly, be sure to vote on November 5!