Pac-12 student-athletes, universities and Conference announce comprehensive activation plan on social justice and anti-racism to kick off 2020 football season
Nov 5, 2020
Pac-12 student-athlete voices lead the way in fight for social justice
SAN FRANCISCO - As the Pac-12 2020 football season kicks off this Saturday, Nov. 7, universities across the Conference landscape will feature student-athlete-driven activations that showcase actions around inclusion, social justice and anti-racism as part of the greater, conference-wide imPACt program.
Over the past several months, the Pac-12 has worked with its member universities, Football Leadership Team, Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) and Pac-12 ImPACt Leadership Council, the Conference’s social justice and anti-racism advisory committee, to identify activations that illustrate the unique perspectives of student-athletes on each campus in order to amplify their voices on one of the biggest stages in collegiate athletics.
The demonstrations of each Pac-12 university’s commitment to anti-racism and social justice will come to life through a variety of student-athlete-led activations this Saturday and throughout the season. Examples of these activations include student-athlete-designed marks and logos symbolizing the commitment to fighting for social justice and equality; to warm-ups designed collaboratively by student-athletes, alumni and campus leaders; to shows of solidarity on the field in support of social issues. By giving Pac-12 student-athletes the stage to speak about what matters to them, the Pac-12 hopes to encourage conversations and action that will bring teammates, athletic departments and fans together in the fight against racism.
Additionally, the Pac-12 Conference worked with student-athletes across various sports from all 12 member universities to participate in public service announcements on the importance of building awareness, identifying solutions and providing leadership in the fight against the systems of racism, exclusion and hate. Through the student-athletes’ voices, the Conference is working to ensure our campus communities create equitable opportunities and outcomes for people of all races. These PSAs will air on all Pac-12 Conference outlets, including Pac-12 Networks, social media channels, Pac-12.com and national broadcast partners.
“Our student-athletes are more motivated and empowered than ever to make their voices heard,” said Washington State University Athletic Director Pat Chun, co-chair of the Pac-12 ImPACt Leadership Council. “I am proud of the student-athlete-first approach the Conference has taken to the expression of ideals like diversity, inclusion, and meaningful progress that are the bedrock of the Pac-12.”
“As student-athletes of the Pac 12, we understand the power of sport,” said UCLA football student-athlete and member of the Pac-12 Football Leadership Team Chase Griffin. “Athletes in this conference have always had a large part in contributing to social progress. Sport, especially collegiate athletics, provides a great platform to educate, build awareness and demonstrate unity and leadership. We have a duty to use this opportunity to combat racism and injustice in order to push culture forward.”
“Pac-12 student-athletes have shown enormous passion and dedication to the work surrounding social justice and anti-racism,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. “Their voices are powerful, their ideas are actionable and their energy is boundless, all of which has been to the benefit of the Pac-12 Conference, Team imPACt and our universities.”
The Pac-12 imPACt Leadership Council, the Conference’s advisory committee on social justice and anti-racism, will prioritize and be informed by the student-athlete voice. The committee will evaluate and implement policies, programs and resources to guide Conference-wide efforts in support of student-athletes and other stakeholders that result in diverse and inclusive communities.
About Pac-12 ImPACt
Pac-12 ImPACt is the social activism arm of the Pac-12 Conference, seeking to do what the name implies – make an impact in the communities and lives of Pac-12 student-athletes, member institutions and society at large. The focus of Pac-12 ImPACt is to harness the power of sport to build awareness, identify solutions and provide leadership to promote initiatives across the social activism landscape, particularly those that encourage a culture of diversity and inclusion, support sustainability efforts and fuel the pioneering spirit of the West Coast. Pac-12 ImPACt creates and supports transformational policies, programs, resources and services designed to strengthen our university communities from the inside out, spreading the messages of inclusion and empowerment by celebrating diversity, fostering fairness and good sportsmanship, and working towards the ultimate goal of equitable opportunities and outcomes for all. Launched in 2012, Pac-12 ImPACt is headquartered in the Pac-12 Conference office in San Francisco, California. For more information on Pac-12 ImPACt, please visit Pac-12.com/impact.
About the Pac-12 Conference
The Pac-12 Conference has a tradition as the “Conference of Champions,” leading the nation in NCAA Championships in 54 of the last 60 years, with 529 NCAA team titles overall. The Conference comprises 12 leading U.S. universities - the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Colorado, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, the University of Utah, the University of Washington and Washington State University. For more information on the Conference’s programs, member institutions, and Commissioner Larry Scott, go to Pac-12.com/conference.