Tuesday, November 22, 2016

GC Pride Camaign - Update

This was originally posted in October of 2014, when the Pioneer Football team hosted the first contest in a year-long effort by our athletic department dubbed the GC Pride Campaign.  The brainchild of our students and staff, the campaign was an effort to show in a visible, tangible way that athletics is, and should be, a safe and supportive environment to all.  The past few weeks have been a bit of a blur, finishing up our season and trying to get a jump on our off-season recruiting travel, but I'd like to take a brief moment to reiterate our support of all our students and student-athletes at Grinnell, as well as all those who have felt under attack during the past months and weeks.

This past election cycle we've seen that our country is more divided than I could have possibly imagined.  The negative rhetoric from a presidential candidate, and now the president elect, has emboldened many to say out loud the the hateful things they've only said in their heads in the past.  That is deeply troubling, and wholly at odds with the ideals of our country and the ideals of Grinnell College.  While it can feel like an overwhelming task, I believe each of us can play a role in making folks feel welcomed and valued in our communities, and we need to find a place to start.  For my part, I want to reiterate the ideals of the GC Pride campaign, that athletics is a welcoming and supportive community for all.  I believe in the innate goodness of human kind, I do not believe that might makes right, and I do believe that kindness and goodness will win in the end.  I don't care what you look like, who you love, or who you worship, you are welcome and supported at Grinnell College, and by Pioneer Athletics and Pioneer Football. 





Tomorrow the Pioneers will be hosting Cornell College for a 1:00 kickoff on Rosenbloom Field.  It is an important game, as it is our first divisional game, our first game that "counts", and a game against one of our closest rivals.  However, it is also a game that I hope will carry importance beyond the what happens between the lines, beyond what the final score shows.  Don't get me wrong, I want this one badly and I hope the Pioneers will play up to their full potential, but I hope this game also has deeper meaning to all who attend the game and all who hear about the game.

The GC Pride Campaign is the brainchild of Justin Thaxton, Coordinator for Diversity and Inclusion in Athletics, as well as student leaders from our varsity athletics teams, the Stonewall Resource Center, and Athlete Ally.  From the official release:

"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 an 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 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.""

Sometimes the meaning of things can get lost in the fancy language, so I'll just hold on to that last sentence, "Athletic fields, teams and competitions are a safe space for Everyone."  I hope we can all agree! 


I'd like to thank Justin and all of our Pioneering students and student-athletes here at Grinnell College for dreaming of this event and for making it happen.  I'm lucky to be a part of it all.  Go Pioneers! 

GC Pride!

Friday, November 11, 2016

Happy Veterans Day

The Pioneers celebrated Military Appreciation Day last Saturday, but would also like to take the opportunity to thank our former Pioneers that also served in the Military.  Your willingness to put others ahead of yourselves is what it's all about!  Our country was built upon that attitude, and it's one we try to instill in all our student-athletes on a daily basis.

This is likely not a complete list of former Pioneers who served, so I apologize in advance to those I have missed.  If you know of others, please email me at pedersej@grinnell.edu and let me know!

Thank You!

Peter Rhee '03

Patrick Ritter '08


Kyle Lobaugh '10
Augustus Karisch '11
Thanks men!

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Pioneers to Host Military Appreciation Day and MWC Canned Food Drive

The Pioneers will be hosting a Military Appreciation Day at their game against Lake Forest College this Saturday, November 5.  The game is scheduled for a 1:00 PM kickoff.  The national anthem will be played at 12:55 PM, with the colors being presented by our local American Legion.  At halftime we would like to recognize any veterans, and family members of veterans, who are in attendance.  We hope to have a strong showing!

We are also in the midst of the Midwest Conference Canned Food Drive, put on by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).  The drive runs through Thanksgiving, and the Grinnell SAAC will donate the food they've collected to the local food pantry at MICA.  If you plan to attend our game this Saturday, or Senior Day next Saturday, please bring consider bringing a donation.

Thank you and Go Pioneers!