Members of Signing Gators are lending their hands at UF gymnastics meets, basketball games and baseball games to sign the national anthem while it is being sung.
Alyssa Lunin, a former American Sign Language teaching assistant, came up with the idea to bring sign language to the games.
Lunin said she wanted to combine her passion for sign language and her love of sports.
She contacted the University Athletic Association to pitch her idea.
The signers vary from students enrolled in American Sign Language 1 to advanced former students and teaching assistants.
Alexandra Klein, the treasurer of Signing Gators, said four signers perform at each game.
“The first couple of times performing were definitely nerve-racking, especially with peers in the audience,” Lunin said. “However, after a couple of times, the nervousness goes away.”
The signers could eventually perform at other athletic events.
Martin Salamone, UAA Assistant Athletics Director of marketing, said the signers could perform at football games depending on how the signers’ performances go this semester.
“It’s all about making sure our fans have the best possible experience,” Salamone said.
The signers’ next performance will be at the men’s basketball game against Mississippi State University on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
