Race relations in this country are as tense as ever, and NCAA sports are beginning to find their way to the forefront of the conversation.
According to University of Colorado Chancellor Phil DiStefano, many Black athletes aren’t happy with how they’re being treated aside from what they bring to the school with their athletic talents.
Ralphie Report, via SB Nation fills in the details:
“According to Sarah Kuta, who’s a reporter for the Boulder Daily Camera, DiStefano was told the Dal Ward Athletic Center was called “The Plantation” by African-American athletes. The comments were transcribed through a series of tweets sent out on Twitter by Kuta.
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#CUBoulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano is sharing a story about a recent conversation he had with a black athletic dept. staffer.
— Sarah Kuta (@SarahKuta) July 13, 2016
DiStefano says black athletes call Dal Ward Athletic Center “The Plantation” because all they’re valued for is their athletic contributions
— Sarah Kuta (@SarahKuta) July 13, 2016
DiStefano says black athletes call it “The Plantation” because their performance pays for white people to play golf, tennis, run track
— Sarah Kuta (@SarahKuta) July 13, 2016
DiStefano: “It just sticks with me and I’m thinking, ‘We gotta change something.'”
— Sarah Kuta (@SarahKuta) July 13, 2016
It’s actually quite refreshing to hear school officials start to not shy away from these very real issues and concerns. Race, as well as greed and unfairness are running rampant in many different areas of society, athletics included.
Chancellor DiStefano seems to be very open to listening to his students’ concerns. Here is a video from February with DiStefano opening dialogue about diversity and making the University of Colarado a more “inclusive” campus for EVERYONE.
The more influential people like this stand up against injustice and unfairness, the faster things will begin to improve in this county…and not a second before.