Photo by: Alexis Robinson
Inclusive Sports Week At CU
October 21, 2019 | Football, General, Soccer, Volleyball
BOULDER – University of Colorado athletics will host its third annual Inclusive Sports Weekend Oct. 22-27 at home games for CU soccer, volleyball and football.
The goal of the event is to spread inclusion in sports by promoting diversity and ending racism, discrimination and harassment. Inclusive Sports Weekend will provide an opportunity for fans to dialogue on social issues and embrace in individual differences by taking a pledge to speak up against discrimination.
"Our goal for this week is to allow our community to engage in conversation centered around diversity and inclusive excellence, as well as be intentional and conscious of the different experiences that our community members are having," Medford Moorer, CU's associate director of academics & development, said. "We want everyone to take a moment and really think about what each of us are going through in some of the injustices that we may face on a daily basis."
Moorer, who is also the chairperson of CU's committee for Diversity & Inclusive Excellence, also wants people to be aware of resources that can help people on campus and will have information about CU's Center for Inclusion and Social Change on-hand.
Inclusive Sports Weekend is also an opportunity for CU to show what it stands for. CU athletics has five core values that make up the acronym RAPID:
"We stand against discrimination and harassment," Moorer said. "We stand against things that are not pushing forward humanity in the correct way."
Tables will be set up at CU's soccer game on Thursday (3 p.m. vs. Stanford), volleyball match on Thursday (7 p.m. vs. Washington State) and football game on Friday (7 p.m. vs. USC) for Inclusive Sports Weekend. Student-athletes and staff will be on-hand to manage the tables and meet with fans interested in taking the pledge. The tables will also provide an opportunity to have conversations about diversity and inclusion.
Fans can look for the Ralphie photo booth where they can take photos with signs that have several different inclusive slogans.
Inclusive Sports Weekend will also have a social media campaign, using #InclusiveBuffs and #NCAAInclusion. For information on the social media campaign, click here.
"It's important to embrace our differences," Moorer said. "It's important to understand that we can disagree, but live together and fight together in the world of sports and in life in general to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to be the best that they can be and 100 percent of themselves when they enter in any space...Whether it's soccer, football, volleyball or cross country, we come and we are united in this space called sport that allows us to have this unique opportunity to be standing next to, in front of, or behind someone who is completely different than we are. We have an opportunity to embrace that individual."
CU's Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Committee
The Buffs' Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Committee was started five years ago by athletic director Rick George and deputy athletic director Ceal Barry after recommendations from the university, and the group continues to create dialogues, campaigns and educational opportunities for student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans. Members of CU's athletics department staff, coaches and student-athletes make up the committee.
The group leads monthly dialogues aimed at student-athletes and staff to come together to discuss topics of inclusion and the committee has also led community service projects.
Inclusive Sports Summit
The D&IE Committee also hosts a yearly Inclusive Sports Summit every February, bringing nationally-renowned speakers and forums to campus. The third annual event is open to the public and will be held on February 26, 2020.
Last year's event, featuring keynote speakers Tamika Catchings (former WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist) and Ryan Harris (former Super Bowl champion), had 17 breakout sessions and the 2020 event is expected to have a similar number.
The goal of the event is to spread inclusion in sports by promoting diversity and ending racism, discrimination and harassment. Inclusive Sports Weekend will provide an opportunity for fans to dialogue on social issues and embrace in individual differences by taking a pledge to speak up against discrimination.
"Our goal for this week is to allow our community to engage in conversation centered around diversity and inclusive excellence, as well as be intentional and conscious of the different experiences that our community members are having," Medford Moorer, CU's associate director of academics & development, said. "We want everyone to take a moment and really think about what each of us are going through in some of the injustices that we may face on a daily basis."
Moorer, who is also the chairperson of CU's committee for Diversity & Inclusive Excellence, also wants people to be aware of resources that can help people on campus and will have information about CU's Center for Inclusion and Social Change on-hand.
Inclusive Sports Weekend is also an opportunity for CU to show what it stands for. CU athletics has five core values that make up the acronym RAPID:
- Respect—recognize and embrace each individual's unique value to the department
- Accountability—take personal responsibility for actions and results
- Passion—personal energy that drives work ethic, focus and a need to excel
- Integrity—always operate in an honest and ethical manner
- Dedication—unwavering loyalty to the department and our shared vision
"We stand against discrimination and harassment," Moorer said. "We stand against things that are not pushing forward humanity in the correct way."
Tables will be set up at CU's soccer game on Thursday (3 p.m. vs. Stanford), volleyball match on Thursday (7 p.m. vs. Washington State) and football game on Friday (7 p.m. vs. USC) for Inclusive Sports Weekend. Student-athletes and staff will be on-hand to manage the tables and meet with fans interested in taking the pledge. The tables will also provide an opportunity to have conversations about diversity and inclusion.
Fans can look for the Ralphie photo booth where they can take photos with signs that have several different inclusive slogans.
Inclusive Sports Weekend will also have a social media campaign, using #InclusiveBuffs and #NCAAInclusion. For information on the social media campaign, click here.
"It's important to embrace our differences," Moorer said. "It's important to understand that we can disagree, but live together and fight together in the world of sports and in life in general to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to be the best that they can be and 100 percent of themselves when they enter in any space...Whether it's soccer, football, volleyball or cross country, we come and we are united in this space called sport that allows us to have this unique opportunity to be standing next to, in front of, or behind someone who is completely different than we are. We have an opportunity to embrace that individual."
CU's Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Committee
The Buffs' Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Committee was started five years ago by athletic director Rick George and deputy athletic director Ceal Barry after recommendations from the university, and the group continues to create dialogues, campaigns and educational opportunities for student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans. Members of CU's athletics department staff, coaches and student-athletes make up the committee.
The group leads monthly dialogues aimed at student-athletes and staff to come together to discuss topics of inclusion and the committee has also led community service projects.
Inclusive Sports Summit
The D&IE Committee also hosts a yearly Inclusive Sports Summit every February, bringing nationally-renowned speakers and forums to campus. The third annual event is open to the public and will be held on February 26, 2020.
Last year's event, featuring keynote speakers Tamika Catchings (former WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist) and Ryan Harris (former Super Bowl champion), had 17 breakout sessions and the 2020 event is expected to have a similar number.
Mark Johnson & Gary Barnett break down the win vs. Wyoming | The Buffalo Stampede: Colorado Football
Sunday, September 21
Introducing Ralphie VII
Friday, September 19
Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, September 16
Mark Johnson & Gary Barnett break down the loss at Houston | The Buffalo Stampede: Colorado Football
Saturday, September 13