Ivy League Basketball Coaches Commit To “Ivy Promise"
6/26/2020 10:05:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Athletics
A message from the Ivy League men's and women's head basketball coaches…
We have heard our student-athletes' and communities' call to action. The anger, disappointment and hurt felt across our country in recent weeks has been eye-opening and inspired important conversations in our communities. This is how we will stand together to proceed forward on the path of making progress for humanity. This is our promise.
The Ivy Promise represents the Ivy League basketball coaches' commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement. While individually our platforms are influential, combined our platforms can be a catalyst for change. We are committed to achieving reform. We will stand against inequality and discrimination until all people are afforded the same opportunities in wages, healthcare, housing, education, and criminal justice. Together we will stand for justice, educate the people, and support our communities.
Our initial action items as a league are as follows:
· As the Head Coaches of Ivy League Basketball, we will use our status and privilege to be vocal advocates for equality for all.
· When possible, our programs will buy from local black and minority owned businesses to help uplift our communities economically and decrease the wealth gap.
· Our coaches and student-athletes will not only participate in All Vote No Play on November 3, but also use our voting power in local and state elections because that is where topics like criminal justice reform begin.
· We will use our games on MLK Day and during Black History Month in February to avidly celebrate Black history and Black excellence.
· Each Ivy League basketball team will donate to and volunteer with the local organizations that are working to address the specific needs of our community.
This is just the beginning.
Q & A with head coach David McLaughlin:
Q: Why is the Ivy Promise important to you?
A: As educators, mentors, and coaches, a key role is to have critical conversations with our players. This Ivy Promise ensures that we will continue to help educate each other!
Q: What does it mean to be part of a league that supports this movement?
A: The collective time, effort, shared ideas, and communication from all of the coaches was special to be a part of. It is special that we can have a collective voice from all of the men's and women's coaches and programs as One Ivy and The Ivy Promise.
Q: What specific actions are you taking to hold yourself and your program accountable?
A: Beyond the numerous conversations we have had as a group, we have formed an everyday action plan for our program to denounce racism and fight for equality. In addition to this everyday plan, we have established numerous action items that we will do as a program on Dartmouth's campus and within the Upper Valley community to help spread conversation, education, and change.
Q & A with head coach Belle Koclanes, the Gail Koziara Boudreaux '82 and Family Head Coach of Women's Basketball:
Q: Why is the Ivy Promise important to you?
A: The Ivy Promise is an important step for us, as coaches, to actively demonstrate that we stand together in doing our part to be the change we so desperately seek. We each have a tremendous responsibility and opportunity, as leaders of young adults from across the globe, to continue to build inclusive, transparent and authentic experiences for our student-athletes. The Ivy Promise expresses both our individual and collective commitment to humanity.
Q: What does it mean to be part of a league that supports this movement?
A: It is absolutely imperative that, as a league, we show by our words and most importantly, by our actions, that Black Lives Matter. It means that we, as human beings, care deeply about moving humanity forward.
Q: What specific actions are you taking to hold yourself and your program accountable?
A: Our entire DWB family is committed to changing the narrative by taking these specific actions:
- Currently having intentional dialogue about race with our team via zoom every other Wednesday from 4pm-5:30pm. This time together is called "Change the Narrative: A DWB Community Conversation."
- Volunteering our time and resources to local organizations who are working towards the change we seek.
- Listening and educating ourselves so that we can serve as active allies, with compassion and empathy, for change in our communities.
