Tuesday, Albion College President-elect, Dr. Mathew Johnson issued a call to action for Albion to be Boldy and Courageuosly Anti-Racist. Like Dr. Johnson, all of us in the Department of Athletics are deeply saddened and angry about the senseless murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Tony McDade, and others. Statements denouncing these deadly assaults against Black communities are not enough. As Dr. Johnson stated, "Action must be taken NOW!"
Albion College Athletics will take action now. In January, the NCAA Division III membership passed legislation (which Albion supported), that requires each active member to designate a staff member to serve as an athletics inclusion and diversity designee. I appointed Melissa Walton, Senior Associate Athletic Director as our designee. I will be asking Ms. Walton to spearhead athletics efforts in creating our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. In addition,
Albion College Athletics will enter the 2020 Fall Semester committed to the following:
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Continued collaboration with the Office of InterCultural Affairs to create Diversity Training programming for our coaches and staff with the desired outcome of identifying, understanding, and correcting structural and institutional racism that exists in our department.
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Work with our student-athlete leadership to create diversity training opportunities in an effort to increase knowledge, understanding, and awareness of systemic racism and its impacts.
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Review hiring practices to ensure that all coaching and administrative positions have a culturally diverse applicant pool that allows us to create a department staff that is representative of our student-athlete population.
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Creation of roundtable listening sessions between athletic administration and Black student athletes to ensure they have a direct voice and conduit to our senior administrative team.
To our Black student athletes, Black staff, Black parents, and Black alumni we will not tolerate injustice, racism, or hatred. We will stand with you and actively seek change. We will LISTEN!
Matt Arend
Director of Athletics