Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The GC Pride Campaign Continues This Friday and Saturday


The GC Pride Campaign that began this past fall during Pioneer Football’s home contest against Cornell College continues this Friday and Saturday as Grinnell hosts the Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship.  The Pioneer tracksters are excited to host the rest of the conference teams for a championship meet, and they are expecting to have peak performances at the right time, but they are also eager to do their part to further the GC Pride Campaign.  For a reminder, the Pride statement is below:

The GC Pride Campaign is an effort formed out of the belief that athletics should represent the many identities of Grinnell College and the surrounding world.  With the NCAA core value of diversity through a commitment to create and support and inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes in mind, we have partnered with the Stonewall Resource Center, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Office of the Intercultural Engagement & Leadership and Athlete Ally.  The athletics department is committed to presenting opportunities to compete and learn that are inclusive of individuals representing all sexual orientations, gender identities, races, religious and cultural beliefs.  The GC Pride Campaign offers to us a moment as humans, Grinnellians and global leaders to take action and set the tone for an entire cultural conversation.  Together, we are stronger!  The GC Pride Campaign enables the many voices of the Grinnell community to join together in solidarity under a single message: “Athletic fields, teams and competitions are a safe space for everyone.”

A lot of time, effort, and thought went into that statement, and it does a great job articulating the type of atmosphere we’re trying to create and promote here at Grinnell College.  There are two things I’d like to emphasize though, that I think are very important.  The first point is that the Campaign is not the answer, it’s not the end-game, but rather it’s the start.  It’s our way, as a department of faculty, staff, and student-athletes, to say we are willing to engage in these discussions and we want our teams to be an environment where healthy dialogue can happen.  We realize that no Campaign is going to magically make everything ok, but we also want to make it clear that we’re ready and willing to engage in the difficult conversations and we’re willing to do what we can to make Grinnell as a whole, and our athletics spaces in particular, a safe place for all. 

The second thing I want to emphasize is that the Campaign is not aimed or directed at any certain group, but rather at all of us.  The language used in the statement (“inclusive of individuals representing all sexual orientations, gender identities, races, religious and cultural beliefs”) is the correct language, but it can sometimes lose it’s meaning.  To make it more real, what we are saying is that our athletic spaces should be safe whether you’re straight or gay.  It means we’ll welcome you whether you’re a man or a woman, or whether you identify anywhere else along the gender spectrum.  It mean’s we want you on our team whether you’re black or white or tan or anywhere in between.  It means you’re welcome to worship as a Christian or a Jew or a Muslim.  It mean’s we’ll embrace your background whether it’s of European decent, or African, or Asian or Hispanic/Latino.  The language may not be right, but the sentiment is genuine.  The GC Pride Campaign is our way of saying no matter who you are or where you’re from, or how you identify, we want you to be a Pioneer and we’ve got your back.

If you’re in the area this Friday or Saturday, stop by the Field House at the Bear Recreation and Athletic Center and come cheer on the Grinnell Pioneer men’s and women’s track and field teams.  You’ll see some incredible student-athletes who represent every one of the qualities I just mentioned, and who represent the best of what Division 3 athletics has to offer.  It’s going to be a great weekend!

#GCPride