As you might expect, today’s topic revolves around intercollegiate athletics. It is not about wins or losses, scheduling games, or officiating. It is about a topic that that has drawn attention at college campuses around the country. It is not about political correctness, but rather, it is about the role athletics plays in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
By its nature, athletics has advantages as we address diversity, and at almost all levels, sports are ahead of society when it comes to equity. Historically, racial barriers are broken in athletics before other areas. Athletics in its best form is the most level playing field there is…where people are judged and valued by their abilities, and by the content of their character.
Emporia State student-athletes, and those on any organized team, come together with the hope of reaching a common goal. They must trust each other, treat each other with respect, and depend on each other, regardless of their teammate’s ethnicity or background. When athletes focus on a common goal, individual differences become much less important. Every day, I see that dependability, trust, mutual respect, and dedication are found in people of all races and cultures.
Athletics though, does face their own generalizations and stereotypes. We hear of individual instances that perpetuate the stereotype of student-athletes being dumb jocks, that they are arrogant, and don’t care about education. So how do we make people realize that these are generalizations, and do not apply to the majority of student-athletes?
At ESU, we have chosen to address these pre-conceived stereotypes by being involved in various community service projects. Not to specifically alleviate the stereotypes of student-athletes, but to simply help people and causes that are in need. When we do that, people get to know student-athletes for who they are as individuals, not by the group they belong to. Stereotypes are slowly broken down, and pre-conceived generalizations fade away.
Emporia State student-athletes take the opportunity to help those in need in our community in a variety of ways. From reading to elementary school students, helping senior citizens, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, collecting food for our local food banks, and building dog houses for our four-legged friends at the Humane Society, just to name a few.
I would like to see other groups and individuals in Emporia, and in the world for that matter, take this same approach….to lend a hand to someone else and get to know them, and they get to know you. Imagine if our international students helped with Walk for Hunger to fill our food banks. If the student Christian organizations helped our Islamic students observe Ramadan, and celebrate Eid. If our black student union helped the Hispanic community celebrate Cinco de Mayo. If our Muslim students helped our senior citizens with Christmas events. If our fraternities and sororities helped African American students recognize Black History month. The possibilities exist everywhere…not to forward any one group’s agenda, but to help others reach their goals. If you first seek to understand, you will be understood.
For this to work as it has for ESU Athletics, groups and individuals must have the courage to get out of their comfort zone, and be the first to extend their hand in friendship and support. How about that someone be you.
I’m Kent Weiser, and that’s something to think about.
