Fourteen student-athletes from Syracuse University will participate in a new Maymester program in Washington, D.C., next week. Hosted by the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship (IDJC), the program is titled “Democracy Playbook: DC Media and Civics Immersion for Student-Athletes.”
The initiative aims to provide participants with an inside look at the nation’s capital while encouraging them to leverage their athletic skills to highlight significant issues. Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of IDJC, stated, “Athletes are born leaders and team players. This program will guide them as they take their talent, discipline and passion off the field to develop their civics muscles, with a playbook for how to navigate media, politics and policy.”
Upon arrival in Washington, students will focus on a chosen policy or issue they care about. The program includes instructional modules covering topics such as Representing Your Community, Media Literacy and Engagement, and Social Media, Traditional Media and Your Brand. Participants will also engage in media/advocacy training sessions and hear from civic and business leaders based in D.C.
The schedule features tours of key locations like the U.S. Capitol Building, the Department of State, the National Archives, and ESPN studios. Social activities include events such as the Race to the White House Scavenger Hunt, a Monuments by Moonlight Tour, and attending a D.C. United game at Audi Field.
This new offering expands study away opportunities for student-athletes who often cannot participate in traditional semester-long programs due to their training and game commitments.
