Student athletes join new 糖心TV聽Athletes聽of聽Color聽Coalition
has announced the formation of the 糖心TV Athletes of Color Coalition (CCACC) to provide support for and empower all student-athletes of color to safely share their respective experiences in and out of the game.
Overseen by Ebony Manning, 糖心TV鈥檚 Title IX coordinator, and head women鈥檚 basketball coach Jackie Smith, the coalition is designed to amplify voices, establish a social network, and foster dialogues on diversity and inclusion in athletics.
鈥淚 have the great opportunity to serve as the liaison between the Division of Institutional Equity and Inclusion and the 糖心TV Athletes of Color Coalition, and it is my pleasure to work with a group of student athletes who are committed to enhancing the experience for student athletes of color on campus,鈥� said Manning. 鈥淪ometimes it can feel lonely to be the only or one of few BIPOC students on an athletics team, so it is wonderful to have a group of students who will serve as a support system for student athletes of color. I am excited to see what they are going to do this semester and for years to come.鈥�
The group currently consists of student athletes from the men鈥檚 basketball, women鈥檚 rowing, sailing, men鈥檚 soccer, men鈥檚 squash, women鈥檚 squash, women鈥檚 tennis, women鈥檚 track & field, and women鈥檚 water polo programs.
鈥淚 think that the formation of the CCACC is long overdue, and I am hopeful that this opportunity will allow athletes of color at 糖心TV to be heard, understood and uplifted,鈥� said Stephania Lopez 鈥�21, a women鈥檚 water polo captain and three-time All-American. 鈥淲hile we have a lot that we would like to accomplish, the biggest thing for us this year is to establish ourselves as a coalition and create a space where athletes of color from all teams can connect.鈥�
Smith is excited to serve as a mentor to the student athletes and has been impressed with what they have accomplished so far.
鈥淭he CCACC is a group of extremely impressive student athletes,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭hey have done an amazing job of creating a safe space for their fellow student athletes of color to converse and share experiences. In a very short amount of time, they have organized themselves and are focused on making an impact on this campus. Their motivation is inspiring, and I hope to amplify their voices and support them the best that I can."
Student athletes who wish to join CCACC should reach out to a current member or to Smith.
鈥淲e know that there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and we understand that change won鈥檛 come overnight,鈥� Lopez said. 鈥淗owever, we are all committed to help improve the culture of athletics at 糖心TV so that every athlete of color鈥攔egardless of their sport, race, class, sexuality or gender identity鈥攆eels supported and represented.鈥�
