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!
