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
