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May 2004
Voting Matters: Harvard Graduate Christopher Nowinski Wrestles Up Votes
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"World Wrestling Entertainment's only Harvard graduate paid a visit to Charlottesville on Friday, not to pummel an opponent in the ring, but rather to raise voter awareness among young people.

WWE superstar Christopher Nowinski made a whirlwind tour around Charlottesville as part of the 'Smackdown Your Vote' campaign that encourages 18-to-30-year-olds to vote.

During his time in Charlottesville, Nowinski did several radio interviews, spoke to students at Monticello High School and mingled with people on the Downtown Mall at Fridays after Five festivities.

"WWE's Smackdown Your Vote has come to town. The campaign encourages young people to get involved in the political process. Wrestler Chris Nowinski, a Harvard graduate, was at Fridays After Five helping to register voters. On WINA's Charlottesville Live Friday morning, Nowinski said he's fed up with those who think today's young people are too uninformed to vote. He suggested we tap into the idealism of youth and said maybe older voters are too self-interested to have anything but their own interests at heart. Nowinski introduced the featured band at Fridays After Five, the Guano Boys." (WINA, May 21, 2004)

Nowinski said he is one of 10 WWE stars involved in the program. Each wrestler takes part on a voluntary basis.

'We all care about getting young people involved and getting them in the [voting] process,' said Nowinski, who graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

The goal of the program is to get 20 million young people to vote in November. If the goal is met, it will be an increase of 2 million from the 2000 election, which saw George W. Bush defeat Al Gore in one of the closest presidential elections in history.

The program is working with both the Republican and Democratic national Committees to help register young voters.

There are numerous issues on this year's election slate that will affect young voters for years to come. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, high gas prices, the economy and college tuition hikes are big reasons people should get out to the polls in November, Nowinski said.

'It is very important for young people to voice their opinions, especially on the issues like the war, the economy, paying for college and debt,' said Nowinski, who debated fellow wrestler Scott Steiner on the Iraq war at a WWE RAW event in Richmond. 'There are a lot of issues that are only going to be important to [young people]. Things that have 50-year timeframes are important to us because we will still be alive.

'We are the ones who are going to fight the wars and we are the ones who are dying in the wars. It is important for 18- t0 30-year-olds to take charge of that situation and do what they can to influence things in their interest.'

The program has no party affiliation and focuses solely on getting young people to vote and voice their opinions.

'The whole program is nonpartisan,' Nowinski said. 'My own personal [beliefs] are not a part of it. It is important to get people involved, however they believe.

Nowinski, who was a runner-up to local product Maven in the WWE's 'Tough Enough I,,' is a member of the WWE RAW roster but is currently out of action due to an injury. There si no timetable for his return to the ring. In the meantime, he will continue to work with the 'Smackdown the Vote' campaign.

'I really enjoy doing it,' Nowinski said of the program.

The WWE has two major shows coming to Virginia next month. The 'Great American Bash,' a WWE 'Smackdown' pay-per-view event, will take place at the Norfolk Scope on June 27 and WWE RAW will be at the Richmond Coliseum the following night" (John Shiflett, The Daily Progress, May 22, 2004)

Comments? Questions? Write me at george@loper.org.