Thursday, October 22, 2020 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the Athletic Study Center and Berkeley’s Cameron Institute for Student-Athlete Development.
In this very special presentation, hear from three of our student athlete leaders about their lived experiences at Cal and in the world, why they chose to speak out and take action on racial justice, and what they would like our advising and student services community to know. All three of our panelists helped create The Change Starts Now.
Cal Athletics supports a number of initiatives focused on voter registration and education ahead of the November presidential election and the Cameron Institute has supported student athlete activism on racial justice. Just a few examples of our student athletes’ civic engagement include:
- Four members of the lacrosse team, including Kamryn Lanier, spearheaded the #GoBearsGoVote initiative to inspire each of their eligible peers among Cal Athletics' 850 student-athletes to register to vote.
- Cal Black Student Athletes have made their voices heard through The Change Starts Now.
- Cal elite swimmer Reece Whitley spoke up in the press: Golden Bear Voices - Reece Whitley: Cal Swimmer Finding His Role During Pivotal Moment In Time and in Uninterrupted on Instagram.
- Sophomore women’s basketball guard Cailyn Crocker’s leadership and activism is featured in Student-driven change: Cal student-athletes create racial justice council.
- Several teams have participated in the online "Athletes Who Vote" challenge, including women's basketball, women's gymnastics, lacrosse and women's water polo, with more teams scheduled to complete the challenge.
- Cal senior safety Elijah Hicks, who helped raise $60,000 to assist families affected by COVID-19 and founded a nonprofit focused on fighting poverty, was one of 22 football players nationwide named to the 2020 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his off-the-field efforts in community service.
Moderators:
-
Dr. Kasra Sotudeh, Academic & Curriculum Development Coordinator in the Athletic Study Center
-
Dr. Sean Hendricks, Assistant Athletic Director of Leadership and Personal Development at the Cameron Institute for Student-Athlete Development